Feature

As energy systems change at an unprecedented pace, businesses and grid operators are confronted with new pressures and prospects. From the rapid adoption of AI and electric vehicles to the increasing impact of extreme weather events, the demands on electricity networks are more complex than ever. 

Australia’s manufacturing sector spent 2025 navigating a complex mix of economic headwinds, technological acceleration and policy-driven transformation, as reflected in year-long coverage by Australian Manufacturing.

Australia’s manufacturing sector is emerging as a central driver in Boral’s expanding circular materials program, with the company reporting that more than 2.5 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are now diverted from landfill each year through its national recycling operations.

Australia’s food manufacturing sector has been undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by rising consumer demand for healthier choices and increased investment in local production capability. 

Australia’s manufacturing sector is at a pivotal moment. Competitive pressure, sustainability expectations, energy costs, and a new wave of digital tools are converging, exposing the limits of the automation approaches that have defined industrial production for decades.

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving digital transformation, has partnered with Schneider Electric to redefine what smart, sustainable mining looks like in the age of AI.  

Precision Plastics Australia has unveiled DesignLab.au, a new platform designed to link global product designers with Australian additive manufacturing capability, in a move that reflects the growing shift toward locally produced, design-led consumer goods. 

Australia’s preparations for nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS are driving new partnerships focused on strengthening local manufacturing, skills and supply chains.

For many small and micro manufacturers, managing production and raw material planning has long been a challenge – limited by costly and complex enterprise systems that are often out of reach.

As industries adopt cleaner, more intelligent energy solutions, the ability to manage, store, and trade energy efficiently is increasingly vital to sustaining a competitive edge.