NMW 2019 Wrap up Innovation and evolution for the future With economists reporting on the continued growth on the Australian economy, one had to see it to believe it and NMW 2019 was testament to that fact. Manufacturers’ Monthly reports.
The theme for this year’s event was Industrial Evolution.
F
ROM the opening hour of day one at 10am to the final day, National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2019 had long queues reminiscent of mega sales events. With industry-led sessions by industry stalwarts and experts
from the field, the event showcased Australia’s role in the industrial evolution. In addition, this year’s event saw an increase in the number of suppliers who displayed their latest products and services on the exhibition floor.
Long queues everyday from day one at NMW 2019.
32 JULY 2019 Manufacturers’ Monthly
The 20th edition of NMW, co-located with Austech, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 14-17, saw more than 11,000 attendees and 200 companies displaying the latest technology advancements with leading suppliers in attendance. The theme for this year’s NMW was Industrial Evolution. The event had a strong focus on advanced manufacturing processes during the exhibition, particularly in the automation and robotics that had an expanded section of exhibitors, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and engineering zones that will carry over into 2020, according to the organisers. Within Australia, since the call from the Federal Government to have manufacturing companies adopt more advanced technologies into their processes, there has been a shift in Industry 4.0 from operational
concept to reality and this has resulted in manufacturing requiring high-level engineering to re-design processes to support ever-increasing smart manufacturing facilities. The Australian Government’s $100 million investment into the Advanced Manufacturing Fund in 2017 has provided support to the manufacturing industry in the creation of new jobs, growing of businesses, improving of productivity, and seen the increase global investment into the country. According to the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) research, the most successful manufacturing companies in Australia have an automation rate of 1.3 times that of less successful companies. The Australian Centre for Robotic Vision predicts that automation is forecasted to boost Australia’s productivity and national income up to $2.2 trillion by 2030, manmonthly.com.au