Stories of doom and gloom ignore countless Australian manufacturers who are not only surviving, but prospering, as they tap new areas of growth and take their innovations to global markets. Australia’s advanced manufacturers are transformative companies. They are securing their own futures, creating jobs, and helping to underpin a sustainable Australian economy.
We’re showcasing many of these dynamic companies here: Anatomics, recently involved in world-first surgery which helped save a man’s leg through a titanium heel bone created in a 3D printer; RØDE microphones, an Australian-based designer and manufacturer of world-leading microphones and audio software; Carbon Revolution, producing carbon fibre wheels for the world automotive market; and many more.
Seeley International
Adelaide-based Seeley International has been manufacturing air conditioners in Australia since Founder and Executive Chairman Frank Seeley AM first established the company back in 1972. Today the family-owned business can lay claim to a growing number of world-first cooling and heating solutions; it has an overflowing awards cabinet in recognition of [...]
ResMed
It has been 35 years since Professor Colin Sullivan and colleagues at the University of Sydney developed the first continuous positive airway pressure device, giving birth to global medical solutions leader, ResMed. The device represented a world first in successful, non-invasive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. Later, in 1989, Peter Farrell [...]
Romar
Sydney manufacturer Romar Engineering and CSIRO have co-invested in a new $1.25 million 3D printer to produce, and research, new advanced manufacturing products for the medical, aerospace and other sectors. The new DMG Mori Lasertec 65 offers opportunities and production processes that were previously impossible in the pursuit of the manufacture [...]
Quickstep
ASX-listed Quickstep’s Chief Executive, David Marino says Australians have a tendency to underrate their inherently flexible nature in providing innovative solutions, which can be vital to success in global manufacturing. “We undervalue our can-do attitude. Doing what you say you are going to do, being fast and flexible and our capacity [...]
Amaero
“It's only rocket science," quips Amaero Engineering Chief Executive Barrie Finnin, as he reveals a jet engine part made with one of five Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 3D printers the firm employs in its groundbreaking additive manufacturing process. Amaero, established in 2013 to commercialise technology developed by Monash University in the [...]
Micro-X
Applying the auto industry’s discipline on cost and reliability to medical device manufacturing has enabled Adelaide firm Micro-X to win over a leading US medical imaging heavyweight. The ASX-listed start-up has also pursued Apple founder, Steve Jobs’ philosophy of simplicity in the design of its revolutionary lightweight x-ray machine. Peter Rowland, [...]
Tomcar
The team at Melbourne-based firm Tomcar is at the forefront of a new era in Australian vehicle manufacturing. With the first electric car to be fully produced in Australia, Tomcar is dreaming big - and succeeding. Designed and built in Australia, full scale production of the Tomcar LV1 gets going in [...]
Northrop
Australia’s defence global supply chain initiatives are a world-leading policy that other countries should look to emulate, says the national head of Northrop Grumman. Still, our government could do more yet to back local manufacturers and industry needs to work on moving higher up the value chain from component making. Ian [...]
Dolphin Products
It has been 70 years since privately-owned Australian company Dolphin Products began manufacturing high precision injection moulded plastic components in Melbourne’s historical manufacturing area of Heidelberg, where it still operates today. First founded as a toy manufacturer, Dolphin later transitioned to the automotive sector. Today, Dolphin Products supplies components and assemblies [...]
A.W.Bell
A specialised aluminium casting process has opened doors outside the automotive industry for local firm A.W.Bell. Sophisticated component manufacturer A.W.Bell expects half its revenues to come via defence work this year, cementing the success of a turnaround since the firm diversified away from the automotive industry. Almost a third of that [...]