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AMGC – To succeed, Australia needs to get serious about collaboration
Manufacturer's Monthly Article - By Jack Lloyd April 30, 2025, 9:05 am
One recent example of collaboration is the partnership between ActionLaser and OptoTech.
I continue to have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible transformation and collaboration of Australia’s manufacturing ecosystem whilst at the helm of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC1). Association Comment Dr Jens Goennemann, Managing Director, AMGC
Now entering our ninth year of operations, I am pleased to see many of our early co-invested manufacturing companies evolve. These businesses have grown from small to medium and some even from medium to large entities, consistently delivering high-quality products to both local and global customers, and in many cases, they have done so through collaboration.
At AMGC, collaboration isn’t a buzzword – it’s a strategic cornerstone of how we drive innovation, growth, and global competitiveness for Australian manufacturers. In fact, we mandate collaboration as a non-negotiable element of every initiative. Manufacturers work with at least one other industry participant and a research institution – where research is a means to an end, which ultimately is a paying customer. Collaboration isn’t a checkbox requirement; it is a deliberate strategy to amplify impact.
While I hear the term collaboration used widely, I still believe there is a lack of understanding about what true collaboration entails and the competitive advantages it can unlock. It doesn’t have to be hard or onerous. Sometimes, it is as simple as joining a network like AMGC, attending a meeting, or sharing a challenge with peers. You never know where such conversation might lead.
The synergies formed between businesses and research institutions, as a result of AMGC’s programs, have solved complex problems and improved commercial viability, while collaborative relationships between manufacturers have unlocked new commercial opportunities far beyond what they could achieve alone.
One recent example of this power is the partnership between two AMGC members and project alumni, one in Victoria and the other in New South Wales: ActionLaser (NSW) and OptoTech (Vic). Together, they tackled a seemingly insurmountable challenge and emerged with a solution that illustrates what can be achieved when manufacturers join forces – and there are some lessons for all manufacturers, including those making vaccines.
ActionLaser specialises in precision laser drilling technology, succinctly describing its expertise modestly as, “We make small holes in thin metal.” These tiny holes are critical to its MeltFilter screens, which are used in industries like plastic recycling, water filtration, and food and beverage processing.
ActionLaser faced a significant hurdle: qualifying the performance parameters of its MeltFilters. Until recently, this process relied on manual inspections using microscopes, which was labour-intensive and literally eyewatering, hence inadequate for ensuring the required precision.
Through a chance comment at an AMGC Manufacturing Council meeting, ActionLaser and OptoTech were introduced to each other by AMGC which kicked off a three-month collaborative project that would revolutionise ActionLaser’s capabilities. Together, they developed a bespoke system that can inspect and map every one of the approximately 500,000 holes on a single MeltFilter disc – which is no bigger than a dinner plate.
This system provides precision, delivering detailed analysis of hole size distribution, residual material, and quality of the discs. As a result, ActionLaser is now the first manufacturer anywhere in the world to be able to calculate filter ‘flow through’ – a critical performance metric – with unmatched accuracy.
This collaboration wasn’t without its challenges. For OptoTech’s director, Mircea Petre, it required innovation, expertise, and a deep understanding of ActionLaser’s unique needs.
“Measuring half a million tiny holes on a disc is not something you can solve with an off-the-shelf solution,” said MrPetre.
“It required a bespoke system developed through close collaboration.”
ActionLaser’s production manager, David Pask, was very pragmatic in his views.
“That chat with OptoTech might’ve gone nowhere, but it was the right place, right time to do something. As a result of this collaboration… we can then calculate what we and our customers call ‘flow through’, a critical measure of performance and something up until now nobody on the planet could do,” he said.
The results speak for themselves. For ActionLaser, this breakthrough is transformative. Its new inspection system enhances product performance and positions it as a global leader in their field. With this capability, ActionLaser projects a 1,500 per cent increase in sales with further growth on the horizon.
This story highlights an essential truth: collaboration is a powerful tool that every manufacturer should consider in their growth strategy. By finding the right partners and leveraging their expertise, or speaking with the right industry bodies, manufacturers can achieve solutions far beyond their in-house capabilities. The first step requires intention and a willingness to share.
ActionLaser and OptoTech embody AMGC’s approach, which has been deployed across all of our Federal, State and Territory initiatives. AMGC’s programs have unlocked $137 million in combined industry and government funding, leading to an estimated $1.62 billion in additional national revenue and 4,300 new jobs. More importantly, it’s created a network effect that underscores the value of collaboration.
More broadly, the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP) provides fresh opportunities to enhance manufacturing capabilities through collaboration. AMGC’s recent appointment as an Industry Partner Organisation (IPO) underscores our commitment to supporting Australian manufacturers. Through this initiative, we’ll offer expert advice, access to technology, and tailored support to help SMEs qualify for funding and build industry connections spanning the national priority areas of transport, defence and value-add to resources.
Challenges that manufacturers face are too complex for a small company to tackle alone. Yet, through collaboration, we can overcome these challenges and create new opportunities. The story of ActionLaser and OptoTech is just one example of what’s possible when manufacturers work together. By fostering a culture of true collaboration, we can further nurture a globally competitive manufacturing industry in Australia.
As we enter 2025, my advice to every manufacturer is don’t go it alone. The expertise and resources you need might be out there, waiting to be unlocked through collaboration. Organisations like AMGC can help you find the right partners and connections to succeed.
https://www.manmonthly.com.au/amgc-to-succeed-australia-needs-to-get-serious-about-collaboration/
