Australian Manufacturing Week 2026
That's a wrap for AMW26 — and what a debut for Brisbane. Paul Mason and Shane Williams spent three days on the show floor of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, joined by locals Phil Seboa (Unplugged IIoT podcast) and Clare Treston — a big thank you to both. Together they captured 13 interviews with the people shaping Australian manufacturing. Catch all the highlights right here — one more podcast episode to come covering all the remaining videos together.
📅 12–14 May 2026 · Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre · All 13 interviews live · Part 2 coming soon
Inside AMW 2026 Brisbane — Robots, ERP & the Future of Australian Manufacturing
Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 has landed in Brisbane for the first time. From cobot welders bringing injured tradies back to work, to ERP scheduling that finally replaces the dreaded spreadsheet — this Part 1 episode covers the full spectrum of what's possible on the factory floor right now.
Paul Mason and Shane Williams speak with seven guests across robotics, automation, metrology, ERP, government grants and Queensland manufacturing strategy — all recorded live at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
AMW26 interviews — catch them all
All 13 AMW26 interviews are live — browse by topic below. Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when Part 2 of the full podcast drops.
The Future of ERP Scheduling — Why Manufacturers Go Back to Excel (and What to Do About It)
Why do manufacturers invest heavily in ERP — then go straight back to managing production in Excel? Paul speaks with Mark and Trevor from PFM Works about a fundamentally different approach: real-time data, multi-level BOM visibility and dynamic priority management that adapts when materials are late, jobs change, or customers shift their due dates. The scheduling overlay integrates with existing ERP without replacing it — giving shop floors clear, live priorities without a multi-year rip-and-replace project.
Watch on YouTube →
ERP for Australian Manufacturers — ECI on AI, M1 & Deacom
AI hype is everywhere — but what problems is it actually solving? Graham Younger and Andrew from ECI unpack the evolution of M1, JobBoss² and Deacom, the difference between discrete and batch/process manufacturing ERP, and why Australian manufacturers increasingly demand software built specifically for their industry rather than generic platforms.
Watch on YouTube →
Manufacturing AI Panel — Data, Adoption & Digital Transformation
The most practical AI conversation from AMW26. Leaders from Jord International, Ventura, Microsoft and Wild Tech on why so many digital transformation projects fail, what real AI adoption looks like inside established manufacturers with legacy systems, and why clean data and leadership trust matter more than any individual AI tool.
Watch on YouTube →
How AI Agents Will Transform Manufacturing Productivity — Microsoft
Justin "Cookie" Cook from Microsoft on "Becoming Frontier" — what separates organisations successfully embracing AI from those falling behind. Why 2026 could be the year AI agents officially join the manufacturing workforce, and what Copilot, Foundry and Fabric actually mean for production teams on the ground.
Watch on YouTube →
AI in Manufacturing — Predictive Maintenance & Real ROI
Grant from Wild Tech on what's actually working now versus the hype. Predictive maintenance with AI-enhanced IoT, AI-powered estimating and quoting, contract risk modelling when raw material prices spike, and why many failed digital transformation projects deserve a second look with today's tools.
Watch on YouTube →
No-Code MES for Manufacturing — Tulip Live Demo
Naufal from Aditos walks through a hands-on Tulip MES demo — digital work instructions, OPC UA/MQTT machine connectivity, real-time quality control, vision systems for error-proofing, inventory tracking, and electronic batch records for pharma and food & beverage. Replacing paper on the factory floor, live on camera.
Watch on YouTube →
Cobot Welding, AMRs & AI Robotics
Five live demos in one booth. Manglesh (Konica Minolta/KUKA) on autonomous mobile robots logging 16,000+ km in service, plus the MC Series mobile cobot. Amanda (Freelance Robotics) on cobot welding as a workforce inclusion tool — bringing injured tradies back to work — and how Blue Dragon software is shifting cobot programming to self-service.
Watch on YouTube →
Government Grants & R&D Tax Incentives for Manufacturers
Sara from RSM on the Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grant — significant matched funding for manufacturers with 5–200 FTEs pursuing Industry 4.0. Plus CRC-P project funding for university-industry collaboration and R&D Tax Incentive access. Practical eligibility detail, no fluff.
Watch on YouTube →
Hi-Tech Metrology — Reverse Engineering & Inspection
Live demo of the Creaform HandySCAN Max — a blue laser 3D scanner capturing over three million points per second at 75-micron accuracy, no surface prep required. Danilo walks Shane through reflective surface handling, tracking targets, and native CAD integration with SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Solid Edge and Inventor.
Watch on YouTube →
Automation for Australian SMEs — Mectec
Phil Seboa talks to Michael from Mectec about Delta-based SCADA, PLCs, drives and robotics integrated with vision and sensor systems. Real-world example: automating a packing operation handling 16,000 units per day. Practical, jargon-free overview of what's available for small and medium manufacturers.
Watch on YouTube →
AI-Powered MRP for Manufacturers
Traditional MRP was built for standardised products, predictable lead times and stable supply chains. In a world of engineered-to-order, volatile materials and constant disruption, those systems generate plans production teams immediately override. What does an AI-informed approach actually look like in practice?
Watch on YouTube →
Queensland Manufacturing & the 2032 Olympics
Gil Harkness (Queensland Government) on Queensland's eight regional manufacturing hubs, growth sectors across the state, and how the Brisbane 2032 Olympics is generating supply chain opportunities — with a carbon-neutral games mandate pushing procurement toward local suppliers via the Industry Capability Network.
Watch on YouTube →
3D Scanning & Injection Moulding Innovation — PPC Moulding
Graham Ashton from PPC Moulding Services on high-speed LED 3D scanning, Australia's only Arburg Freeformer machine, injection-grade prototyping and silicone printing. Real examples from medical, defence, rail and consumer sectors — including how PPC supports reshoring projects and export-ready product development.
Watch on YouTube →
B&R Enclosures — Technology, Talent & the Future of Industry
Phil Seboa speaks with Dan and Jack from B&R Enclosures, one of Queensland's most established family manufacturers, about how multi-generational businesses stay competitive: technology adoption, workforce development and the broader pressures facing Australian industry in 2026.
Watch on YouTube →
How IICA Supports Engineers, Automation & Manufacturing
Saskia Moon from the Institute for Instrumentation, Control and Automation (IICA) explains how the organisation connects engineers, technicians and manufacturers through expos, technical events, training and industry networking across Australia's industrial and automation sectors.
Watch on YouTube →
Advanced Manufacturing on the Sunshine Coast
Tim from MEFAS on why the Sunshine Coast — a $4B+ manufacturing economy and the region's biggest export industry — is becoming one of Australia's most exciting advanced manufacturing hubs. Peer-to-peer business networks, world-class robotics teams, and what collaboration between manufacturers can unlock.
Watch on YouTube →Part 1 podcast — live now on all platforms
The full 34-minute Part 1 episode is out now on all platforms. Part 2 coming soon — subscribe so you don't miss it.
🎙 AMW26 Part 1 — out now everywhere
34 minutes, 7 guests, recorded live at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Covers cobot welding, AMRs, ERP scheduling, 3D metrology, SCADA automation, government grants and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics procurement pipeline. Part 2 coming soon. Also browse the AMW2025 archive for last year's coverage.
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AMW26 coverage · FAQ
Quick answers about Manufacturing Tech Australia's AMW26 coverage and the interview series.
What did Manufacturing Tech Australia cover at AMW26?
As official podcast media partner of Australian Manufacturing Week 2026, MTA co-hosts Shane Williams and Paul Mason — supported by locals Phil Seboa (Unplugged IIoT podcast) and Clare Treston — recorded 13 interviews live on the show floor in Brisbane, 12–14 May 2026. All 13 are now published. Topics span cobot welding and AMRs, ERP scheduling, government grants and R&D tax incentives, 3D metrology and reverse engineering, SCADA and SME automation, AI-powered MRP, family business technology adoption, and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics opportunity for Queensland manufacturers. Part 1 of the full podcast recap is live now; Part 2 coming soon.
When and where was Australian Manufacturing Week 2026?
AMW26 ran 12–14 May 2026 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane, Queensland — the first time the show has been held in Queensland. It is Australia's biggest manufacturing trade show, organised annually by AMTIL (Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited).
Where can I listen to the AMW26 podcast?
AMW26 Part 1 is live now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio. You can also find it on the MTA episode page. Part 2 coming soon.
Who was interviewed in the AMW26 series?
All 13 interviews across the full AMW26 series: Manglesh Singh (Konica Minolta/KUKA) on AMRs and mobile cobots; Amanda (Freelance Robotics) on cobot welding and workforce inclusion; Mark & Trevor (PFM Works) on dynamic ERP scheduling; Sara (RSM) on manufacturing grants and R&D tax incentives; Danilo (Hi-Tech Metrology) on the Creaform HandySCAN Max 3D scanner; Michael (Mectec) on Delta SCADA and SME automation; Gil Harkness (Queensland Government) on regional manufacturing hubs and Brisbane 2032 Olympics procurement; Dan & Jack (B&R Enclosures) on multi-generational family manufacturing; Graham Younger & Andrew (ECI Software) on AI, M1 and Deacom ERP; Justin Cook (Microsoft) on AI agents and productivity; a manufacturing AI panel (Jord International, Ventura, Microsoft, Wild Tech); Grant (Wild Tech) on predictive maintenance and AI ROI; Naufal (Aditos) on Tulip no-code MES; Graham Ashton (PPC Moulding) on 3D scanning and injection moulding; Saskia Moon (IICA) on engineering networking; and Tim (MEFAS) on Sunshine Coast advanced manufacturing.
Who hosts Manufacturing Tech Australia?
Manufacturing Tech Australia is co-hosted by Shane Williams (Virtual CTO, author of ClustERPuck) and Paul Mason (CEO of Robotics Australia Group, manufacturing consultant). The show launched in 2023 and has grown to 80+ episodes across four seasons, reaching 25,000+ manufacturing professionals across 10+ countries. At AMW26 in Brisbane, the team was joined by local guest hosts Phil Seboa (host of the Unplugged IIoT podcast) and Clare Treston — a big thank-you to both for their fantastic work on the show floor.
Where can I watch last year's AMW2025 coverage?
All 15+ AMW2025 interviews and both podcast recap episodes (S3E56 & S3E57) are available on the AMW2025 archive page, featuring guests from Bosch, Sandvik Coromant, Hexagon, Emona, Central Innovation, Catten Industries and more.
Who were the local guest hosts at AMW26?
MTA was joined at AMW26 by two Brisbane locals who volunteered their time on the show floor: Phil Seboa, host of the Unplugged IIoT podcast, and Clare Treston. Both conducted interviews alongside regular MTA co-hosts Shane Williams and Paul Mason. A huge thank-you to Phil and Clare — their knowledge of the local manufacturing scene made a real difference to AMW26 coverage.