Innovative manufacturing
Brisbane excels in the area of innovative manufacturing with strong capabilities and opportunities across a diverse range of high-value, knowledge-intensive sectors.
Manufacturing is one of Australia’s most important industries. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that manufacturing employs approximately 976,300 Australians, and contributed $112.4 billion (AUD) or 8.7 per cent to GDP in calendar year (CY) 2010I.
The manufacturing sector in Queensland employs approximately 187,000 people in over 10,000 businesses, and has a $20.7 billion (AUD) share in the State’s economy (2010-11)II. Brisbane’s innovative manufacturing industry continues to be concentrated in specific subsectors with a focus on ensuring long-term growth.
Government at all levels in cooperation with industry is promoting continuous innovation as the key driver of increased productivity, higher value-adding, product development and access to new markets.
Please click here to download the innovative manufacturing fact sheet.
On this page
Brisbane's competitive advantage
Talent, innovation and education
Globally connected
Economic resilience
Resources industry
Expanding infrastructure
Opportunities
Advanced manufacturing
Machinery and equipment
Packaging and recycling
Brisbane’s competitive advantage
Talent, innovation and education
Australia is an innovation-driven economy. The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2011-12, placed Australia’s higher education and training 11th and its quality of research institutions 13th highest out of 142 countries.
Brisbane is home to many significant industry driven research and education facilities. SkillsTech Australia is the largest public provider of trade and technician training in Australia delivering pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship/traineeship and post-trade training to more than 20,000 students every year. Brisbane is also home to metals technology focused CAST Cooperative Research Centre, the Queensland Manufacturing Institute and the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBENRC). SBENRC is a research cornerstone between industry, government and research organisations for the built environment industry. This excellent research and education network ensures manufacturers have access to a high-quality labour pool.
Globally connected
As the closest eastern seaboard capital city to Asia and home to one of the fastest-growing container ports in Australia, Brisbane offers unparalleled shipping and transport opportunities. This strategic location coupled with unequalled infrastructure, land availability, lower operating costs and significant labour advantages makes Brisbane an ideal logistics location.
Economic resilience
Despite global uncertainty the Queensland manufacturing sector has seen exports continue to grow. Government at all levels work together to facilitate investment, the Brisbane City Council represents the third largest single council controlled area in the world, providing market opportunities in abundance.
Resources industry
Queensland’s resources boom has further strengthened with increasing in demand for coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from all across Asia and the world. There are currently $142 billion (AUD) of resource projects planned across QueenslandIII.
This ongoing expansion has resulted in significant opportunities for companies to supply much-needed technologies and machinery to large mining companies. As Queensland’s capital, Brisbane is well placed at the heart of this boom.
Expanding infrastructure
Manufacturers enjoy a well established infrastructure network in Brisbane, as well as solid plans for the future. South East Queensland (SEQ) is Australia’s fastest growing region, approximately 2.99 million people currently call SEQ home, and this is expected to grow to 4.4 million by 2031IV.
To manage this significant increase and secure the region’s prosperity and lifestyle, Queensland has committed $134 billion (AUD) in the Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP) to planning and delivering infrastructure projects to 2031.
Coupled with the Brisbane City Council’s long term commitment to infrastructure, this represents the largest public infrastructure spending program in Australian history.
Opportunites
Advanced manufacturing
Key sub-sectors in advanced manufacturing include sheet metal, micro-electronics, robotics and mineral processing technology. Companies to have achieved success in Brisbane include:
• ABB
• Alphapharm
Machinery and equipment
Queensland’s booming mining industry means Brisbane is home to some of the world’s largest mining companies. Substantial growth has created many opportunities for suppliers to service this market. Companies successfully supporting the mining industry include:
• Komatsu
• Hitachi
• Caterpillar
Packaging and recycling
Brisbane City Council is one of the largest city councils in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is well known for its environmental responsibility and innovation. Areas of specialisation are in paper, metal and plastics recycling and packaging. Companies to have achieved success in Brisbane include:
• Amcor
• Sita
• OI
For more information please contact the Investment Attraction team by email or phone +61 7 3006 6200.
i. Department of Industry, Innovation Science, Research and Tertiary Education, 2011 - http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/Manufacturing/Pages/DetailedManufacturingStatistics.aspx
ii. Smart Industry Policy: Manufacturing, Queensland Government, 2012,
http://www.industry.qld.gov.au/initiatives/184.htm
iii. Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011
iv. Queensland Infrastructure Plan, 2011