Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay commit to defence industry

Moreton Bay region industry representatives have signed up to an agreement on sovereign defence priorities. An industry-led communique was signed at a Sunshine Coast event last month, led by representatives from Regional Development Australia Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast (RDAMBSC), Australian Industry and Defence Network, Manufacturing Excellence Forum Sunshine Coast and Elexon Electronics. “If we start building and expanding capability for PCB production now, we have a real opportunity for our region, and Australia more broadly, to be a major player in electronics and all the industries and capabilities that this supports from biomedical, agtech, robotics, defence, national security and more,” RDAMBSC Chair Gavin Keeley said in a statement on Monday. “We believe that having a centre of competency here in Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast makes good economic sense and would attract other business that play in the field of electronics and related industries.”

F-35 program has secured over $5 billion in Australian contracts

A significant milestone in the global F-35 program was noted by Defence on Friday, with Australian industry going past $5 billion in contract value. More than 75 Australian companies have contributed via manufacturing, supply chain solutions and sustainment services. Contracts secured by Australian businesses include supply of components for avionics and propulsion systems, as well as providing ongoing maintenance and upgrades. “This significant achievement in the global F-35 program highlights the strength and innovation of our defence industry and the important role it plays in supporting Australia’s Defence strategic interests,” the statement reads.

Australia Post opens new International Commercial Facility

Australia Post has announced the opening of its new International Commercial Facility at Sky Road, Melbourne Airport, which it says marks a step forward “in automation and efficiency of international inbound parcel processing operations.” The site spans 2,500 square metres, is capable of sorting up to 6,000 parcels per hour, and is “designed specifically to expedite the clearance process for international parcels coming into Australia” according to a statement on Monday. The new facility is the second to with “a fully automated system for the international commercial delivery service,” said AP, following the Sydney Gateway Facility in October 2023. It will also have a dedicated area for parcel inspection by Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry.

Defence supercomputer now online

Defence announced on Friday that a new “state-of-the-art high performance computing capability” is now running, after research and project development by Defence Science and Technology Group. According to a release, the secure supercomputer is capable of working “orders of magnitude faster than a standard computer to leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence and support complex decision making at scale.” Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, added that it, “enables Australia’s best minds to tackle some of Defence’s most challenging problems at pace.”

Nominations open for this year’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards

Nominations have opened for the 2025 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, with winners to be announced at a gala dinner in October. The first online information session for the annual awards will be held on Tuesday this week, with nominations open until June 2 at 11:59 pm. Individual awards this year are Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year, Young Manufacturer of the Year, Woman Manufacturer of the Year, and Honour Roll for Service to Industry. Company-level awards include Leader in Construction Technologies, Leader in Food and Beverage, Leader in Transport and Rail, and Manufacturer of the Year across small, medium, large and regional divisions. Nomination info is available here.

Majans gives Infuzions snacks a brand refresh

Australian snackfood maker Majans has unveiled what is says is “the biggest brand evolution in its recent history” for its Infuzions range. In partnership with agency Asprey, the brand refresh and new packaging “is designed to captivate a broader audience of health-conscious snackers, while staying true to the loyal customer base that has made Infuzions a household name”, according to Majans. Marketing Manager Hayley Bonaccorso added, “It’s more than a design upgrade — it’s a strategic repositioning to ensure we remain the go-to brand for Australians seeking lighter, healthier snacking options… We’ve worked closely with Asprey to bring this vision to life in a way that’s contemporary, eye-catching and aligned with what today’s shoppers are looking for.” Majans also announced “a new and improved Veggie Straws Sour Cream & Herb flavour, and a bold new twist on a classic with the launch of Salt & Balsamic Vinegar” and promised further new products “set to roll out in Woolworths stores nationwide in the coming months.”

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