Feature

Australia’s appliance manufacturing sector is preparing for a major design update following a standards amendment that will require new washing machines to include a dual-action start mechanism from July 2026.

Amid rapid technological progress and dynamic shifts in the business environment, businesses across all sectors must remain ahead of the curve. Brad Kasell, a seasoned expert in business intelligence and technology at Domo, a cloud-native data experiences innovator, shares his perspective on the emerging trends reshaping the manufacturing sector.

Creating public spaces that are both functional and engaging is a primary goal for architects and designers, with timber playing a crucial role in shaping these environments. 

Australia’s peak organisation for the gift and homewares sector, the Australian Gift & Homewares Association (AGHA), has revealed plans for a major expansion in 2026, introducing Gifted Melbourne 2026 to complement the long-established AGHA Sydney Gift Fair.

For those looking to make light work of tough jobs, the Antea 50 walk-behind floor scrubber combines powerful performance with intuitive and smooth handling –– for commercial cleaning at your convenience. 

The Australian government announced in late February a $310 million acquisition of nuclear submarine components from the United Kingdom. The payment will support the manufacture of nuclear-powered submarines to be built in Osborne, South Australia. The investment follows a larger GBP 2.4 billion Australian contribution to expand Rolls-Royce Submarines' production capacity.

The growth of automation and digital technologies has transformed the manufacturing sector in Australia. As Industry 4.0 continues to evolve, the demand for crucial digital skills is skyrocketing. 

While there is no doubt the current health pandemic has had an impact on many Australian manufacturers, the inaugural CommBank Manufacturing Insights report suggests the sector is on the precipice of a new growth phase.

Labour costs have begun to rise making automation more attractive and threatening job security. Focus has also shifted from mass produced products to customised products particularly in the field of consumer products. Fortunately, 3D printing is able to mitigate these changes and allow manufacturing to shift from traditional to advanced production.

Working in manufacturing has been an interesting time in the last 12 months, with a rapid and yet, mostly undiscussed transition to working from home. With that has come a lot of really clever solution ...