AMF2026 brings together New Zealand’s manufacturing community, industry leaders, academics and the next generation of engineers for a day focused on solving real-world manufacturing challenges.
This is not a traditional conference. This is a problem-solving platform. Manufacturers bring the challenges; experts, students and industry peers bring fresh perspectives and practical solutions.
The programme combines interactive workshops and industry–academia sessions spanning process innovation, advanced materials, automation, sustainable production and digital transformation. Participants will leave with practical ideas, new connections and clear pathways into the wider innovation ecosystem.
Stronger collaboration between industry and the university sector is one of the most practical and cost-effective ways to accelerate innovation and productivity in New Zealand. Universities bring deep research expertise and emerging knowledge, while industry contributes real-world experience, market insight, and valuable practical know-how.
When these strengths come together, even small improvements to products, processes, and technologies can deliver significant economic benefits. The real opportunity lies in creating stronger pathways for collaboration and applying research to real-world challenges.
AMF2026 is particularly designed for small and medium-sized manufacturers who are:
👉 Challenge-ready: willing to share a specific production bottleneck or innovation challenge in advance, helping shape the workshops.
👉 Collaboration-ready: open to working with universities, students and other manufacturers to explore new approaches.
For small medium sized manufacturers, it is a unique opportunity to put real operational challenges in front of independent academic experts and emerging engineering talent — gaining fresh thinking, building valuable relationships and uncovering opportunities to take their manufacturing capability to the next level.
Event details
Where: AUT City Campus, Auckland
When: 23rd September 2026, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Keynote speaker: Rob McKenzie-Carroll – COO, HamiltonJet
Panellists:
- Sarah Ramsay – CEO, United Machinists
- Watch this space for 2nd business panellist
- Prof Xun Xu - Smart Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering
- Shaun Twaddle – Manager Small Business & Manufacturing Policy, MBIE
Price
$149.00 + GST (for 1-2 company attendees)
$298.00 + GST (for 3-4 company attendees)
A valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate, and explore how industry, academia and engineering students can work together to strengthen New Zealand manufacturing.
<Space is limited. This event is for manufacturing leaders only>
