FLINDERS FACTORY OF THE FUTURE

About Us

Australia’s Manufacturing Transformation Hub

Flinders Factory of the Future is a transdisciplinary advanced manufacturing research hub, accelerating industry growth through practical, evidence-based solutions to industry problems.

We help organisations adopt new technologies, develop new products, build workforce capability and translate research into real-world impact. By connecting industry, researchers, students and government, we create practical pathways that accelerate innovation, strengthen competitiveness and support Australia's manufacturing future.

Rediscovering Australia’s Manufacturing Advantage

Australia's future prosperity depends on a strong, innovative and globally competitive manufacturing sector.

Flinders Factory of the Future was established to help bridge the gap between ideas and implementation, connecting industry challenges with research capability, skilled people and practical pathways to innovation. We exist to strengthen manufacturing capability, accelerate research translation and support the next generation of manufacturing leaders.

Our Story

Flinders Factory of the Future has evolved from an Industry 4.0 demonstration initiative into a platform for manufacturing innovation, workforce development and research translation.

Built on the foundations of Line Zero, the Manufacturing Growth Accelerator and the Medical Device Partnering Program, the Factory has grown into a nationally recognised environment where industry, research and education come together to solve real-world challenges. The completion of the purpose-built Tonsley facility and the launch of FORGE Medical Devices in 2026 mark the beginning of an ambitious new chapter focused on manufacturing transformation and impact.

Our team

Meet our Director:

Professor Karen Reynolds

Professor Karen Reynolds brings deep engineering, medical device and industry translation expertise to her role as Director of the Flinders Factory of the Future. She is a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Flinders University, Director of the Medical Device Research Institute and leader of the Medical Device Partnering Program, which she established in 2008.

She became an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia in 2017, awarded Engineers Australia David Dewhurst award in 2016, South Australian Scientist of the Year 2012, elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (2011), and awarded Australian Professional Engineer of the Year (2010).

She has also held external leadership roles, including as a member of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and Director of the Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering Board.

Considered one of Australia’s leading researchers in biomedical engineering, Professor Reynolds’ work has spanned pulse oximeters, prosthetic heart valves, bone biomechanics, surgical instrumentation and training, including technologies to reduce X-rays during fracture repair and improve cancer detection during surgery.

At the Flinders Factory of the Future, she applies the same bridge-building approach to advanced manufacturing, bringing together research, technology, engineering and human factors to help industry improve productivity, reduce costs and deliver practical community impact.

Meet our leadership team

Dirk Van Rooy

Deputy Director (Academic), Business & Policy

Expertise: Human-technology interaction, systems thinking, human-centred design decision-making, organisational adaptation, explainable AI, and the implementation of advanced technologies in operational settings.

Jo Close

Deputy Director, Delivery & Growth

Expertise: Innovation, strategy, operations, leadership, commercialisation, partnerships, governance, execution, growth, impact.

Maziar Ramezani

Deputy Director (Academic), College of Science & Engineering

Expertise:Advanced Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing, Materials Engineering, Research Leadership, Industry Collaboration, Biomedical Devices, Sustainable Manufacturing, Tribology, Innovation, Engineering Education.

Andrew Richardson

Business Development Manager

Expertise: Business development, collaborative research partnerships, and research translation.

Carolyn Ramsey

Senior Hub Manager

Expertise: Researcher engagement, governance, funding and operations.

Our areas of expertise

Human-Technology Interaction

We help manufacturers optimise the interaction between people and technology, including:

Collaborative Robotics: Exploring the use of robots that work alongside humans to streamline processes.
Smart Automation: Driving solutions that enhance precision and consistency while maintaining adaptability.
Human-centred integration: Ensuring technologies are safe, effective and easy to adopt through human‑factors and usability expertise.

Additive Manufacturing

Driving technical and cost efficiencies through:

High-Resolution Printing: Improving reproduction quality across diverse materials.
Process Optimisation: Reducing waste and lead times while maintaining quality.

Cyber and Artificial Intelligence

Helping manufacturers leverage emerging digital technologies to improve performance, resilience and competitiveness through:

Applied Artificial Intelligence: Using AI and machine learning to enhance productivity, quality assurance and operational efficiency.
Secure Digital Systems: Protecting critical manufacturing infrastructure, industrial networks and digital assets.
Advanced Data Analytics: Turning complex operational data into actionable insights that support better business and production decisions.

Digital Twinning and Simulation

Transforming product development and manufacturing workflows with:

Virtual Simulation Tools: Mimicking all elements of factory functions to evaluate workflows, energy use, and logistics to identify efficiencies and driving data-driven decision making.

Design and Prototyping

Accelerating product development and reducing risk through:

Product Design: Developing innovative, user-centred products that balance functionality, performance and manufacturability
Rapid Prototyping: Creating and testing physical and digital prototypes to validate concepts, reduce risk and accelerate development.
Design for Manufacture: Optimising designs, materials and production processes to improve quality, scalability and commercial readiness.

Testing and Validation

Ensuring products, processes and technologies perform as intended before deployment through:

Performance Testing: Evaluating products, systems and components to verify functionality, reliability and quality.
Validation and Verification: Assessing designs and processes against operational, regulatory and industry requirements.
Risk Reduction: Identifying potential issues early through testing and analysis to improve confidence, safety and readiness for implementation.

Workforce Development

Ensuring your business has the skills it needs to thrive through:

Co-design and co-delivery of tailored microcredentials to upskill your workforce.
Talent pipeline development through Degree Apprenticeships, industry placements, work integrated learning and other pathways that help build the workforce you need for tomorrow.

Strategic Support

Supporting informed decision-making through:

Economic Impact Analysis: Understanding the financial viability and long-term benefits of adopting advanced technologies.
Strategic Modelling: Delivering insights to guide investment and operational strategies.

Our flagship programs

FORGE & FORGE Medical Devices

FORGE is an innovation model designed to help organisations navigate the journey from idea to market by connecting capability, infrastructure and industry expertise launching with the FORGE Medical Devices program. Built on nearly two decades of success through Flinders University’s Medical Device Partnering Program, FORGE Medical Devices delivers an end‑to‑end system to take medical innovations from concept through to clinical trials and scale. The FORGE model is intended to be scalable and replicable across other industries that face similar challenges

Find out more

Manufacturing Growth Accelerator (MGA) program

Delivered in partnership with the South Australian Department of State Development, the Manufacturing Growth Accelerator (MGA) enables SMEs to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies through access to Flinders Factory of the Future.

Find out more

Develop your workforce and build future talent

Innovation depends on people. Building the workforce of the future is as important as developing the technologies that will power it.

Through Degree Apprenticeships, industry placements and tailored workforce development programs, Flinders Factory of the Future helps organisations build the skills they need today and the workforce they need for tomorrow. From creating pathways into mechanical engineering and defence industries to delivering co-designed micro-credentials that upskill existing teams, we connect education, industry and innovation to support long-term growth.

Our Collaborative Networks

Flinders Factory of the Future sits within a rich innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate collaboration between research, industry and technology partners. Anchored at the Tonsley Innovation District, it is co‑located alongside manufacturers and technology‑driven organisations working on shared challenges, enabling collaboration, knowledge‑sharing and rapid testing in live industrial contexts.

The Factory is connected to Flinders University’s extensive research infrastructure across health, medical, digital and advanced science domains, and embedded within national and global networks such as Innovation Central Adelaide and the Additive Manufacturing CRC. Through partnerships with industry, advanced manufacturing research centres and technology providers, the ecosystem provides access to emerging digital, data and Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies. Together, these relationships support knowledge exchange, collaborative research and international engagement, strengthening local capability and enabling innovation over time.

Our Funding Partners

FORGE Medical Devices is supported by funding from the Australian Government
under the Medical Research Future Fund

A place to collaborate,
test and innovate

Flinders Factory of the Future provides industry with access to a purpose-built advanced manufacturing facility located within the Tonsley Innovation District.

Our factory floor includes collaborative workspaces, workshops, assembly and testing environments, product development capability and specialist manufacturing equipment that support innovation, technology adoption and product development.

Beyond Tonsley, we provide access to specialist laboratories, facilities and infrastructure across Flinders University and our research partners, helping organisations access the capability they need without the cost of building it themselves.