As Australia prepares for a major energy transition, the need for scalable, flexible battery storage solutions has never been more urgent. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasts that the country will require around 9GW of new battery energy storage systems (BESS) by 2027 to support renewable energy integration, manage coal plant closures, and address rising grid volatility.

As industries adopt more automation, the demand for reliable and efficient pneumatic systems, which power everything from robotic arms to air-powered tools, continues to rise.

A new partnership between the Tech Council of Australia (TCA) and techUK is set to accelerate digital innovation across both nations, with potential flow-on benefits for Australia’s manufacturing sector through improved access to emerging technologies and global markets.

Scanfil has signed a new manufacturing outsourcing agreement with Liquid Instruments, strengthening its presence in Australia’s Medtech and Life Science manufacturing sector. 

The Victorian Government is investing in the state’s manufacturing future with a $10 million grant initiative aimed at reducing energy costs, supporting local jobs, and accelerating industrial electrification in the food and beverage processing sector.

The national Jobs and Skills Council for manufacturing, the Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (Manufacturing Alliance), has completed its first regional visit to Maryborough, Queensland, in a joint initiative with Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ). 

Western Australia’s breakbulk steel distributor, Abrolhos Steel, has upgraded its manufacturing operations in Geraldton with the installation of a new Konecranes 5-tonne CXT crane, replacing a 30-year-old unit that had become increasingly difficult to maintain.

A new $20 million manufacturing plant in Maryborough, Queensland, is set to bolster Australia’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure by turning waste asphalt into high-performance road surfaces. 

The Queensland Manufacturing Institute (QMI), a key player in supporting the state’s manufacturing sector since 1993, is set to be acquired by the Industry Capability Network (ICN) National Office in a move aimed at strengthening connections between local manufacturers and major national projects.

Sparc Technologies has announced that construction of its first-of-its-kind photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) pilot plant at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus is on schedule and within budget, with commissioning expected to commence in July 2025.