Tag: Manufacturing

Australian small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses recorded sharp falls in revenue, profitability and inventory levels in the first quarter of 2026 as disruption linked to the Middle East conflict weighed on markets, according to a new report from Unleashed.

Global metal cutting and machining solutions company Sandvik Coromant says manufacturing automation continues to face a key limitation at the point where the cutting tool meets the material, despite broader advances in robotics, connected systems and analytics.

Manufacturing capability in Australia’s medtech sector and the role of AI in strengthening sovereign manufacturing were in focus at a recent ARM Hub BioBriefing in Brisbane, where industry leaders, investors and manufacturers gathered to discuss pathways to commercialisation and growth.

Battery technology startup Voltavate is establishing its Australian headquarters and research and development facility in Port Melbourne, in a move aimed at supporting the growth of battery manufacturing capability in Victoria.

Australian manufacturing-linked power electronics company EcoJoule Energy says underinvestment in voltage management technologies across distribution networks is costing energy consumers about $1.1 billion a year in potential savings, alongside an estimated $317 million in annual appliance damage.

The Australian Government has announced a new domestic gas reservation scheme aimed at securing affordable gas supplies for Australian households and manufacturing industries, with exporters to be required to direct part of their production to the domestic market from mid-2027.

The Western Australian Government says its 2026-27 State Budget will deliver billions of dollars in investment aimed at supporting manufacturing, energy transition projects and broader economic diversification across the State.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has welcomed approval of the offshore Otway Basin gas project “Annie,” describing the development as an important step toward strengthening Victoria’s future energy security and supporting business confidence, including across the manufacturing sector, during the transition to net zero.

AMTIL says manufacturing conditions across the Asia-Pacific region are being reshaped in 2026 by growing digital expectations, energy uncertainty and mounting productivity pressures, with Australian manufacturers facing both new opportunities and operational challenges.

Australia’s manufacturing and building sectors are facing rising compliance costs and regulatory complexity due to growing state and territory variations to the National Construction Code (NCC), according to the Building Products Industry Council.