Industry Update

A study from global IT experts Kyndryl has revealed that global manufacturing rates itself as the least prepared industry for talent shortages. Just 27% of manufacturing leaders said that they were ready to make up for gaps in talent, equal only to healthcare and way back on the 41% among finance leaders. Manufacturing bosses also feared a lack of readiness for macroeconomic uncertainty, perhaps reflecting the embedded worries that linger after supply chain issues during the coronavirus pandemic.

Recycling is no longer just a buzzword, it’s a measurable goal that businesses and governments are committed to. The 2019 National Waste Policy set 2030 targets and actions for waste and recycling, including an 80% average resource recovery rate and a significant increase in the use of recycled content. The 2022 National Waste Report found that Australia’s resource recovery rate for 2020-21 was 63%, while the recycling rate was 60%.

The Workforce Development team at Training Services NSW (TSNSW), a division of the NSW Department of Education, plays a vital role in facilitating the coordination and support of talent attraction and training initiatives. Its main goal is to foster the development of a skilled workforce that meets the needs of various industries in NSW.

New owners have taken over Adept Conveyor Technologies and MRT Australia, creating Adept Conveyors Pty Ltd, a new business that’s set for growth and expansion in the Australian materials handling and logistics markets. The new company will be steered by the Larsen family of Cowra, NSW, and the family’s long-time accountant, Stephen Henderson. The Larsen family has a long history in Australian manufacturing, particularly in the agricultural industry.

Manufacturing excellence the heart of our newest city, Bradfield City Centre by Ben Kitcher, Executive Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility New cities rarely happen. In Australia, the last major city to be built was Canberra - 100 years ago. A new city built around advanced manufacturing technology is rarer still - a potential global first, in fact.

Labor has just landed the single largest defence export agreement in Australia’s history – and the deal means jobs and economic opportunity for Queensland. Queenslanders will be building more than 100 new Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Redbank in Ipswich. This new agreement will secure 600 direct jobs in Queensland, with economic opportunity flowing right through the supply chain.

Australia’s industries and productivity could be transformed by  ‘foundation models’, the technology underpinning the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) — and we can build sovereign capability in this technology — says a new report by Australia's national science agency, the CSIRO.

Now at full speed, Fortescue’s new electric excavator has dug a million tonnes at Fortescue’s Chichester operations in the Pilbara, WA, and the mining company says it’s a massive milestone in its decarbonisation plan. For the past three months, it had been running at partial capacity while the site team  got to know the new piece of equipment. At times it has performed better than an equivalent diesel excavator. “This is such an exciting milestone for Fortescue and our decarbonisation journey.

For the past month, the Australian Army has been part of Project Convergence, a US-led campaign of learning through persistent experimentation testing. Its mission is to develop networks, robotic and autonomous systems, air defence and strike-related systems. Project Convergence was designed to aggressively advance and integrate technology across all war-fighting domains, to defeat an adversary in competition and conflict.

Make lifting easier with a machine that’s made for the job. The ergonomic design of Tawi Protema Lifters will decrease heavy manual handling and minimise strain on the backs, shoulders and knees of employees. Innovative Swedish engineering means the units have ergonomic handles for easy and comfortable operation. The lifter belt is driven which ensures quiet and smooth oil free drive. Hand controls are also user friendly and ergonomically positioned for optimal operation.