The manufacturing industry is a major sector in Queensland and a core contributor to the State's economy.

The industry offers strong and diverse capabilities across a range of established sectors, including engineering, machinery and equipment, transport equipment and food processing, as well as newer sectors with high growth potential, such as aerospace and electronics. The Queensland Government is committed to fostering long-term, sustainable manufacturing growth across these sectors.

Invest Queensland has identified niche areas within the advanced manufacturing sector which present opportunities for future growth. These include:

• biotechnology 
• industrial biotechnology
• therapeutic medicines
• medical devices
• tropical health
• food processing 
• functional foods
• meat processing
• water-reliant food manufacturers
• machinery and equipment 
• mining equipment
• transport equipment
• marine 
• superyachts
• renewable energy and sustainability
• solar
• clean technologies
• emerging technologies
• advanced materials (fibre composites, nanotechnology)
• coal-based products
• chemicals and mineral processing
• chemical production
• mineral processing
• power generation
• other large-scale intensive activities.

Fast facts

• over 192,000 people are employed in manufacturing in Queensland
• Queensland's manufacturing industry generates over $17 billion for the economy and experienced a 9.2 per cent average annual growth in the five years to June 2007
• TAFE Queensland (Technical and Further Education) institutes have the capacity to deliver a wide range of manufacturing and engineering qualifications tailored to meet industry requirements
• the Port of Brisbane is the third-largest, fastest-growing, and most efficient major port in Australia
• Brisbane to Sydney has very favourable back loading rates (40-60 per cent of the cost of Sydney to Brisbane).

Queensland's advanced manufacturing advantages

• workforce
• access to a large pool of engineers, trades people, process and support workers
• some of the lowest attrition rates for employees in the Asia Pacific region, generating direct cost savings in training and recruitment
• ability to source employees from a broad catchment area
• low business costs
• the lowest workers compensation rates in Australia across a broad range of worker classifications
• strategic and low-cost industrial sites available close to key transport infrastructure
• very favourable back-loading rates to southern markets
• world-competitive electricity and other utility costs
• infrastructure
• extensive, efficient road and rail networks
• direct access to the Port of Brisbane, the fastest-growing port in Australia
• advanced manufacturing infrastructure including QMI Solutions, Cooperative Research Centres, TAFE Queensland institutes, private providers and universities geared towards assisting the growth of manufacturing in Queensland
• specific supply capability advice and support to manufacturers through the Industry Capability Network Queensland
• location closer geographical proximity to Asian markets than other Australian locations.

Who else is here?

These are just a few of the major advanced manufacturing companies operating in Queensland:

• BHP Billiton Nickel Yabulu - lateritic nickel and cobalt processing plant producing 30,000 tonnes per annum
• Boyne Smelters Limited - Australia's largest alumina smelter
• Capral Aluminium Limited - Australia's largest aluminium extrusion facility
• Carlton United Breweries - Australia's biggest beer producer has one of its largest and most efficient breweries in Yatala
• Cement Australia - Australia's largest manufacturer and distributor of cement
• CSR - leading manufacturer of building products in Australia 
• EGR Group - major automotive and other plastics-related product manufacturer, employing around 1,000 people, with its head office in Brisbane
• Ludowici Limited - global mineral processing equipment company which recently moved its headquarters to Brisbane, and is currently building a large manufacturing operation on a new site at Pinkenba
• Multinail - one of the largest nail plate and related-product manufacturers supplying to the timber truss industry, with its head office and manufacturing facility in Queensland
• Orica Australia - one of the largest producers of sodium cyanide in Australia, and the third largest in the world
• Queensland Alumina Limited - one of the world's largest alumina refineries
• Rio Tinto Alumina Refinery - a recent expansion makes this the world's largest alumina refinery. The Rio Tinto Alcan Queensland Research and Development Centre is developing new technologies and enhancing existing alumina production processes
• Smorgon Steel - Australia's largest producer of steel tube and other steel fabrication-related products
• Sun Metals Corporation Pty Ltd - Australia's largest producer of refined zinc metals
• Volvo Commercial Vehicles - major commercial vehicle manufacturer of Volvo and Mack trucks, based at Wacol
• Xstrata Copper - processing of copper from one of the largest underground mines in the world and the deepest in Australia (1800m).

More information

For more information on the advanced manufacturing industry, visit the Queensland Government's Office of Advanced Manufacturing

For more information on proposed and planned infrastructure projects, visit the Queensland Government's Department of Infrastructure and Planning website or the Projects Queensland website.

For more information on investing in Queensland, contact us