Now in its 21st year, the annual Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards recognises outstanding achievements in Victoria’s manufacturing industry.

Melbourne Chamber member Boeing Aerostructures Australia won Manufacturer of the Year – Large Business, while Swastik Sharma of Alstom, another Melbourne Chamber member, won Young Manufacturer of the Year in the individual category.

Victorian Chamber members were also recognised, including AME Systems for Manufacturer of the Year – Regional Business, Amiga Engineering for Manufacturer of the Year – Small Business, and Modra Technology for Leader in Digital and Advanced Technologies. Individually, Daniel Malone of ANCA co-won Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year.

Award winners were announced at the gala dinner at Palladium at Crown on Thursday 10 August.

2023 award winners

Individual awards:

• Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year: Daniel Malone, ANCA and Emma Mokalei, Essity
• Young Manufacturer of the Year: Swastik Sharma, Alstom
• Woman Manufacturer of the Year: Erika Hughes, Integra Systems
• Honour Roll for Service to Industry: Elizabeth Lewis-Gray, Gekko Systems

Company awards:

• Leader in Defence, Aerospace and Space: SPEE3D
• Leader in Digital and Advanced Technologies: Modra Technology
• Leader in Food and Beverage: That’s Amore Cheese
• Leader in Health Technologies: 3DMEDiTech
• Leader in Rolling Stock and Transport: Evolution Rail
• Leader in Zero and Low Emissions Technologies: Energys
• Leader in Manufacturing: Think Fencing
• Manufacturer of the Year – Small Business: Amiga Engineering
• Manufacturer of the Year – Medium Business: Farm Foods
• Manufacturer of the Year – Large Business: Boeing Aerostructures Australia
• Manufacturer of the Year – Regional Business: AME Systems, Ararat
• Manufacturer of the Year – Large Business: Boeing Aerostructures Australia

Nine new awards were presented this year including to leaders in key sectors defence and aerospace, food and beverage, digital, health and low emissions technologies.

The awards received more than 75 nominations this year, assessed by expert panels including industry leaders to identify finalists and winners among the high-quality entrants.

Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty Ben Carroll officially congratulated the winners at the event: “Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of this year’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards who represent the true breadth of the sector in Victoria and help put us on the global map of advanced manufacturing.”

“As manufacturing evolves to become smarter and more sustainable, these Victorian companies are leading the way with new technologies, innovations and ways of working.”

Victoria’s $33 billion manufacturing industry is made up of around 24,000 businesses, supporting more than 250,000 jobs, and providing around 30 per cent of Australia’s manufacturing output.