NORTH Link’s Melbourne’s North Advanced Manufacturing Group (MNAMG) was delighted to host a tour this week for manufacturers from Northern Victoria, joined by several key manufacturers from Melbourne’s north.

Despite Melbourne’s chaotic weather on Tuesday, the enthusiasm of our visitors was undiminished as they travelled significant distances to learn, connect and share experiences in Industry 4.0 and AI integration.

The day began at La Trobe University’s Digital Innovation Hub, where Jeff Jones and Alison Angleton shared how the Hub is supporting businesses at all stages of their digital transformation. Samantha Zebrowski from William Buck also provided valuable insights into succession planning for manufacturing business owners.

Next, the group visited Sutton Tools Pty Ltd in Thomastown, where Roy D’Souza delivered an inspiring presentation on Sutton Tools’ AI journey. We also heard from two talented graduate researchers exploring how AI can improve product identification accuracy — critical to the company’s precision manufacturing processes. A heartfelt thank you to Peter Sutton and the Sutton Tools team for their generosity in sharing their story and hosting our visitors.

Our final stop was Integra Systems, where Erika Hughes, Paul Hughes, Ellida Grixti and Nick Restall showcased how an SME can lead the way in advanced manufacturing, demonstrating practical applications of Industry 4.0 and AI technologies.

It’s clear that with manufacturers like Sutton Tools and Integra Systems, the future of manufacturing in Melbourne’s north is bright — powered by innovation, collaboration, and emerging talent.

A special thank you to Michael Anderson and the RDA Committee for their ongoing support of MNAMG, and to Paul Henderson from AusIndustry Northern Victoria for his assistance in organising this invaluable visit.

To all who attended — thank you for taking the time to engage with us. We look forward to continuing the discussions and supporting your AI and Industry 4.0 journeys.

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