ARM Hub is Helping Unlock the Potential of Australian Manufacturing Australians are well-aware of the need to advance manufacturing operations to secure sovereignty and growth as a nation. Harnessing technology and Industry 4.0 are the crux of the solution, but how can Australia develop world-leading technology capabilities to become an advanced manufacturing nation? Queensland’s independent, not-for-profit, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub has been doing just that. Their unique business model allows ARM Hub to work intimately with supply chains in our critical industries, with a focus on small-to-medium manufacturers, to bridge the gap between industry and innovation.
Within its first year of operation, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub has found a huge and growing appetite for Australian businesses to innovate and take the world head-on.
“As an independent not-for-profit we have the agility required to work side-by-side with businesses on their digital transformation journeys and can assist in leveraging public and private funding.”
The ARM Hub accelerates Australian industry’s uptake of advanced manufacturing through robotics and related technologies and is now assisting a wide range of companies develop as global business leaders.
The Hub has engaged with over 200 businesses across the country, implemented over 120 Industry 4.0 needs assessments and activities, and supported the creation of new products and services, by Australians, for Australia and the world. ARM Hub’s first tenants, Verton Pty Ltd, have fast tracked new crane products and services whilst occupying a dedicated space for research and development within the Hub’s Learning Factory.
According to Associate Professor Cori Stewart (Chief Executive Officer, ARM Hub), “We fill a critical gap for industry between research and commercialisation, bringing together the diverse expert teams needed to solve industry’s manufacturing challenges.”
Now global exporters with new international offices, Verton is deploying the next generation of their remote-controlled crane products in Europe, UK, North America, New Zealand and across Australasia. Verton has evolved from a scale-up to an established commercial business, outgrowing their space at the ARM Hub to take up residence in their own facility. Since then, Verton has substantially increased employment within the business and continue to grow. “The global growth of our market has reassured us that investing in continued innovation is the right decision,” said Stan Thompson (Founder and Chief Technical Officer, Verton). “The heavy lift industry has increased demand for our products and as Verton grows to accommodate this, means we’re onboarding more staff to accelerate our products.”
Image: ARM Hub Learning Factory in Brisbane, Queensland.
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Also accessing the ARM Hub advantage are Hub tenants and future project partners, Australian Droid + Robot (ADR). ADR develop, manufacture and deploy remotely operated inspection vehicles for inaccessible and unsafe environments, such as abandoned mine sites, to keep personnel out of harm’s way. During their tenancy, ADR has collaborated with the ARM Hub to engage university expertise to further develop their products, realise their ideas and widen their manufacturing footprint.
