ARM Hub Industry Day 2025

Brisbane, QLD - March 21, 2025 - The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub (ARM Hub) successfully hosted its highly anticipated ARM Hub Industry Day this week, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and researchers to explore cutting-edge advancements in Industry 5.0. 

The event featured insightful discussions, pioneering project showcases, and the launch of new initiatives aimed at transforming Australian manufacturing.

ARM Hub CEO Professor Cori Stewart highlighted the success of collaborative projects driving innovation in Australia's industrial landscape. One such project is the Banana Dehanding Project, developed in partnership with the Australian Banana Growers Council (AGBC), Hort Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Future Food Systems CRC, and BNL Industrial Solutions. 

"This project will invent a new-to-the-world banana picking tool, generating patents and providing a commercial solution for farmers in northwest Queensland, particularly in Tully," said Prof. Stewart. "By bringing together research expertise and industry needs, we are developing world-leading agricultural technology."

A key announcement at the event was the launch of Exit 2030, ARM Hub's latest accelerator program tailored for deeptech and advanced manufacturing founders. "Exit 2030 is a mastermind group designed exclusively for founders who plan to exit their businesses in the next 3-5 years," Prof. Stewart explained. "We recognise that exiting these companies isn't like selling a typical business. Investors and acquirers look beyond revenue—they care about IP defensibility, scalability, strategic positioning, and long-term value creation."

Another standout moment was the presentation by ARM Hub's Technical Director, Prof. Jonathan Roberts, on the collaboration with InfraBuild to improve workplace safety and efficiency in Australian steel manufacturing.

"InfraBuild manufactures reinforcing steel bars used in construction. Some of these bars are slightly too short, requiring workers to manually remove them—a task that involves reaching into a moving production line," said Roberts. "By working together, we co-designed a prototype tool that can be mounted on a robot to identify and remove short bars safely. This innovation stemmed from a brainstorming session with InfraBuild's team, and just ten minutes after our meeting, one of their engineers sketched out the concept that became the prototype."

Finally, Arena Mars Founder Greg Miller called on Australia to improve its business scaling ecology. "We need to build an ecosystem that helps startups scale,"said Miller. 

"Innovation doesn't come from sticky notes and whiteboards—it comes from pissed-off people. And (Co-Founder) Michael and I are pissed off. Every founder we meet agrees: Australia needs a scaleup ecosystem."

ARM Hub Industry Day 2025 concluded with a dynamic networking session and a keynote address from QLD Minister The Hon Dale Last, reinforcing the role of collaboration in driving sustainable and innovative growth in the sector. 

"The work done here at ARM Hub aligns with the Queensland Government's vision for manufacturing. We believe Queensland should be the most attractive state for manufacturers to invest in. We want to create jobs from the tip of Cape York to the Tweed. Manufacturing in Queensland is a sleeping giant—it's time to awaken it and take it to the next level," said the Minister. "Our message is simple: Queensland is open for business."

The event underscored the importance of partnerships between industry, research institutions, and organisations like ARM Hub in accelerating industrial transformation. Attendees engaged with Australia's brightest minds in robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing, shaping the future of sovereign manufacturing in the country.

ENDS

(SPEECH TRANSCRIPTS ATTACHED.)