THIS year has been a significant one for Tooling Australia, with the launch of Advanced Manufacturing Australia (AMAus), at Tooling Australia’s annual Dinner on October 19.
Officially launched by the Honorable Senator Kim Carr (Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science & Research), the new organisation has been created to build coalescence and critical mass for the Advanced Manufacturing Industry.
It is designed to closely align with strategic industry policy, ensuring close co-ordination between industry and governments in the development and promotion of Australian industry capabilities.
While the change has been driven largely by the current membership, the majority of which are now diversified companies operating in several sectors of the industry, the transition also offers the great opportunity to expand the membership base to incorporate new member companies from sub-sectors outside the original Precision Machining and Die & Mould areas.
The new organisation will extend it’s range of services, to Advanced Manufacturing sub-sectors including; Robotics & Automation, Cutting Tools and Design for Manufacture.
The organisation will also continue it’s very strong focus on export market development and collaboration projects, continuing to building strong perceptions of Australian Advanced Manufacturing in the global market as an internationally competitive, high-tech producer of niche technologies and facilitate the continued exposure of Australian capabilities to international supply chains.
Over 300 guests attended the launch with the President of Tooling Australia, Carlos Broens, and many of his fellow colleagues at the dinner to show support of the transition to AMAus.
The National Apprentice Toolmaker of the Year finalists were also recognised at the event, with top honours awarded to Aidan Brindley (Dienamics; QLD), 2nd place Michael Wilson (Avoca Engineering; NSW) and in 3rd place Brendan Ferguson (Marand Precision Engineering; VIC).
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