Advancing automation in manufacturing  

The future of automation in heavy engineering and steel fabrication took center stage when Professor Ian Manchester and his team from the Australian Centre for Robotics visited HERA at the end of last year.

This week-long engagement, was part of HERA’s engagement with the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC) project which brought together global expertise and local insights to explore how advanced technologies can transform Aotearoa New Zealand’s manufacturing and construction sectors. Joining Professor Manchester were Kieran Parker, Yiduo Wang, and Viorella Ila, who brought their specialised expertise to the discussions and site visits. Also contributing to the collaborative efforts were our General Manager Fabrication 4.0, Michail Karpenko, and Senior Engineer for Advanced Manufacturing, Holger Heinzel; whose extensive industry knowledge added industry knowledge to the engagements. 

Professor Manchester, a globally recognised authority in automation and robotics, leads the Australian Centre for Robotics at the University of Sydney. His institution is renowned for developing cutting-edge technologies to address complex industrial challenges. Notable projects include underwater robotic mapping for archaeology, autonomous systems for asset management using digital twins, and smart vehicle technologies like Cit-e software for traffic optimisation. 

Transformative insights at the Construction 4.0 Conference 

As part of his visit, Professor Manchester delivered a keynote address at the Construction 4.0 conference which was an output of the HERA led and Endeavour Funded Ngākopa Construction 4.0 research to transform the construction industry in Aotearoa New Zealand using advanced technology approaches.  

His presentation, titled “The Future of Automation in Construction and Manufacturing”, explored emerging opportunities for integrating advanced technologies. Key themes included: 

• efficiency and precision: How automation can enhance productivity, accuracy, and flexibility in industrial processes; 

• dynamic systems: research advancements in systems capable of real-time adaptation to changing production environments; 

• human-machine collaboration: opportunities to integrate collaborative automation tools to support complex tasks; and 

• data-driven decisions: leveraging AI and analytics to optimise production processes and enable predictive maintenance. 

Professor Manchester emphasised the transformative potential of automation to modernise the manufacturing and construction sectors, offering a roadmap for innovation and enhanced productivity. 

Industry engagement – identifying challenges and opportunities 

During the visit, the team engaged directly with eight HERA member companies through interviews and site visits. These interactions focused on assessing the current use of automation technologies and identifying areas for improvement. 

The engagement revealed key challenges, including the difficulty of implementing standardised solutions in small-scale operations with diverse product demands, the limited availability of adaptable systems to meet evolving needs, and the lack of collaborative tools that seamlessly integrate with human workers. Companies also noted the need for advanced AI-driven inspection and data analytics to enhance quality control and operational efficiency. 

This in-depth assessment deepened our understanding of the sector’s needs and guided the creation of targeted strategies for automation adoption, uniquely tailored to the challenges and opportunities within New Zealand’s industrial landscape. 

Paving the way forward – developing a roadmap 

The Australian Centre for Robotics visit highlighted the potential of automation to drive innovation and create transformative changes. By working collaboratively, we’re ensuring these advancements benefit our members and the wider sector’s growth and success. 

Moving forward, we’re developing a roadmap to address the barriers identified during the visit. This roadmap aims to provide scalable and adaptable solutions for manufacturers, focusing on: 

• designing systems that cater to small-scale operations; 

• enhancing human-machine collaboration through advanced tools; 

• leveraging AI and data analytics for real-time monitoring and decision-making; and 

• improving production planning processes to adapt to changing environments. 

We’d like to invite all HERA members to provide feedback on this roadmap as your insights and perspectives are essential in shaping solutions that address the unique needs of the industry and unlock the full potential of automation technologies. 

To contribute your ideas or learn more about this initiative, please contact our team so that together, we can create a stronger, more innovative future for our industrial landscape. 

To do so, please contact our Senior Automation Engineer Holger Heinzel at: holger.heinzel@hera.org.nz