Australia’s factories and plants are ramping up for 2026 as global industrial automation hits US$158 billion (AU$346 billion) and power electronics (power modules and discrete devices) reaches about US$40 billion (AU$88 billion), powered by steady growth around 9 per cent yearly thanks to more electric vehicles, solar power, and cleaner energy grids.
Locally, Australia’s process automation sector—key for mining and heavy industry—stands at AU$686 million in 2025, heading to AU$960 million by 2030 with 7.4 per cent yearly growth. Power electronics here grew to AU$781 million in 2024 and aims for AU$1.17 billion by 2033 at 4.3 per cent growth, boosted by renewables and EV demand. Industrial machinery makes AU$5.3 billion in 2025 with slow 0.9 per cent growth due to mining dips but steady manufacturing needs, while robotics adds US$26 million (AU$38 million). These numbers show Australia’s focus on smart efficiency in resources over sheer size.
Smart AI factories, advanced chips like SiC and GaN, and robot helpers cut factory stoppages by 30 per cent while helping meet green energy goals in mining and manufacturing. Companies like Rom-Control refurbish older drives and controllers (VSDs/PLCs) so they work seamlessly with these new technologies—combining proven reliability with modern upgrades like AI sensors or efficient chips. This extends equipment life cost-effectively instead of scrapping it for shiny new replacements.
Smart AI taking charge
Smart AI goes further in 2026, running on its own to spot and fix issues in drives or controllers without people stepping in. Australian plants use it with on-site computers to catch tiny flaws super fast using cameras—10 times quicker than people checking electronics or boxes. Experts like Deloitte say factories will pour money into this for quick changes, with AI potentially slashing waste by 25 per cent by learning from control screen
In power gear, AI builds virtual copies to test heat on converters, making chip swaps safer and designs 40 per cent faster. Real examples hit 99 per cent success in car building lines, guiding Western Australia’s wind farms where AI predicts part wear from shakes. Rom-Control adds this to fixes, turning stored old ABB units into smart-ready backups with an average of 97 per cent repair success rate on legacy equipment.
Power boost from SiC and GaN chips
New wide‑bandgap chips like SiC and GaN are becoming everyday tools, helping big converters in solar farms and EV chargers achieve double‑digit efficiency gains compared with older silicon designs. Australia’s demand for these high‑performance devices is rising with EVs and renewables, with SiC taking on the very high‑voltage work in mine and infrastructure equipment, while GaN is favoured in smaller, fast‑switching IT and power‑supply hardware.
Globally, SiC and GaN power semiconductors are growing at more than 20 per cent per year as they are designed into EV powertrains, fast chargers and renewable converters, outpacing the broader power‑chip market. They help cut power losses and heat, which is critical as AI‑heavy data centres push server power toward two to three times that of traditional racks.
SiC devices do run hot if design is not optimised, which is driving better simulation and packaging tools to manage thermal stress in compact, high‑power systems. Research and local engineering work on GaN processes aim to lower costs over time, supporting more efficient upgrades and reducing e‑waste when older equipment is refurbished instead of scrapped.
Rather than quoting a fixed figure like “61 per cent of businesses use these by 2026,” it is more accurate to say that adoption is still early but accelerating, especially in EV, renewable energy and advanced industrial power supplies. This growing complexity and skills gap means specialist repair and refurbishment partners such as Rom‑Control are increasingly important to integrate SiC and GaN safely into existing drives, converters and control systems.
Robot helpers and flexible factories
Helper robots lead growth, set up in minutes for mix-and-match setups that switch jobs in hours, fixing worker gaps in old Australian sites. Sensors and private 5G link old controllers to online views for early warnings and virtual tests with no stops. Forbes calls smart chains a big win, with robots in sheds using AI to reroute goods on the fly.
Tiny GaN drives power them, up 12 per cent in storage amid 10.8 per cent control growth. Local makers switch to easy-reprogram setups, skipping full overhauls on Siemens gear. Rom-Control’s certified fixes add modern links, prepping renewed screens for robot teams.
Connected devices and fast networks
Billions of smart devices link up, with edge-cloud mixes acting like a plant’s quick-response nerves for drive checks in far flung locations. 5G and next-gen networks make factories super-linked, sending clear data from power units to spot problems. Easy software speeds green energy ties, cutting power waste 30 per cent in smart sites.
Built-in security protects roaming robots as links open controllers to risks. Edge AI steadies grid converters, key for Australia’s clean push.
Going green with reuse
Circular Economy guidelines encourage reusing equipment, avoiding trillions in downtime costs by extending the life of drives and other gear. SiC/GaN chips reduce waste in solar setups, while AI helps track and meet sustainability targets. Australian policies boost automation adoption by 40 per cent, favoring refurbished assets that cost 40-60 per cent less than brand-new ones.
Remote mini-grids pair refurbished converters with batteries, creating new revenue from wind and hydro projects. Rom-Control leads the Australian repair and refurbishment industry with 2-year warranties on over 10,000 repairs, supporting the green shift by saving rare metals used in new electronics.
Warehouse and chain changes
Smart rolling bots rule storage with AI paths, teaming perfectly for fast moves in 2026 sheds. Bendy setups handle small runs, GaN powers exact motors up 9.9 per cent. Blockchains and AI plans toughen chains against hiccups.
What it means for Australia
2026 brings together smarter AI, advanced power electronics, and flexible robots to give modern factories a clear edge over older, traditional plants.
Managers get the best value by upgrading and repairing existing equipment, with Rom-Control’s component-level work combining the reliability of proven VSDs and PLCs with new capabilities like better connectivity and data visibility. This mix of refurbishment and targeted modernisation helps Australian sites stay competitive as global chip investments surge and smart factories demand more advanced semiconductors and control systems.
About Rom-Control
Launched in 2007, Rom-Control grew organically, as one of the few companies with the ability to diagnose and repair complex industrial electronic equipment, such as VSDs, PLCs, IGBTs, Inverters, Converters and other automation and power electronic equipment.
Fast-forward to the end of 2025, and Rom-Control is servicing over 1400 customers in Australia, PNG, Pacific Islands and New Zealand, as is trusted by many of the largest Australian operator/maintainers to restore to service, costly, failed and mostly obsolete automation and power electronics, all provided with a 2-year warranty
Rom-Control
2 Axis Crescent, Dandenong South, Victoria, 3175
+613 9543 4544
