The Government of Queensland will be investing AU$ 7.71 million over four years in order to establish the nation’s first robotics manufacturing hub that will create and support more jobs.
According to a recent press release, Minister for Manufacturing Cameron Dick shared that the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub would be developed in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology and a global creative studio and art foundry.
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub
The Hub will attract more than AU$ 10 million in additional investment from the University, the company and other partner organisations to bring the total investment to almost AU$ 18 million.
Although the ARM Hub will initially be in Brisbane, its services will be delivered across the state.
Regional manufacturers will have the opportunity to access these services through the Queensland Government’s Manufacturing Hubs in Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton and the Defence Hubs in Townsville and Ipswich.
Few things are reshaping the world faster than the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems.
However, the good news is that for every robotic system that the company acquires, new high-value jobs are created.
Benefits of the ARM Hub
A report commissioned by the University called, “The robotics and automation advantage of Queensland,” discovered several economic benefits from the adoption of robotics and automation in the State.
Over the next 10 years, there will be 1.5% added growth, AU$ 77.2 billion boost to Gross State Product and 725,810 new jobs created.
The ARM Hub will provide practical production and manufacturing advice in a real-life factory environment.
This will enable Queensland manufacturers to learn cutting-edge robotic technologies and techniques, and develop industry skill and expertise to apply to their own businesses.
Boosting the state of Queensland
This is a facility for all of Queensland.
All manufacturers across the state coming from sectors as diverse as aerospace, biomedical, beef and food processing, defence, mining equipment, technology and services, rail manufacturing, and space will be able to access the ARM Hub,.
According to the Minister, the Queensland Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap identified that the adoption of leading-edge technologies requires a highly skilled and capable workforce, which the State is well-placed to provide.
The vision is for Queensland to be the leading jurisdiction in Australia for robotics.
The University will invest over AU$ 4 million to implement the ARM Hub. This will include support from the University’s Design Lab, which will provide expertise in high-value product development and the integration of new technologies into the manufacturing process.
The Hub will allow Queensland industry and research institutions to build the advanced capability that will enable manufacturers to be more competitive, bring manufacturing jobs back to Australia and generate new jobs locally.
According to the company’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, the adoption of future manufacturing capabilities improves the competitive advantages of Australian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
This can be achieved by creating domestic and export opportunities and generate new jobs for the manufacturing industry especially amongst SMEs.
The ARM Hub will further embed Queensland as a global leader in advanced robotics and design-led manufacturing.
