Australian Composites Manufacturing

Australian composites manufacturing encompasses the design, fabrication and supply of fibre-reinforced polymer components used across a wide range of industrial, infrastructure and consumer applications. The sector includes manufacturers, fabricators, material suppliers, equipment providers, engineers, designers and specialist service organisations operating across Australia.

Composites Australia is the national industry body representing Australian composites manufacturing. It supports the visibility, capability and ongoing development of the sector, with a focus on manufacturing practice, workforce capability, standards, safety and supply-chain connectivity.

Industry capability and supply chain

Australian composites manufacturers operate across diverse processes, materials and production scales, supporting both domestic and export markets. Capability ranges from high-volume production to specialised, project-based fabrication, with many organisations providing integrated services including engineering, tooling, prototyping, testing and installation.

The Australian composites supply chain includes manufacturers of finished products and components, material suppliers, equipment providers and specialist service organisations. These businesses support applications across construction and infrastructure, water and wastewater, pools and aquatics, transport, marine, aerospace, defence, energy, mining and industrial equipment.

Search Australian composites manufacturers and suppliers using the Composites Australia directory, which provides a national database searchable by process, material, sector and location.

→ Australian composites manufacturers and suppliers directory.

Manufacturing processes and materials

Composite manufacturing in Australia spans a wide range of fabrication processes, including hand lay-up, resin infusion, filament winding, pultrusion, prepreg processing, compression moulding and emerging automated and digitally enabled techniques. These processes support the use of glass, carbon, aramid and hybrid fibre systems with thermoset and thermoplastic resin matrices.

Detailed descriptions of composite fabrication methods used in Australian manufacturing are available through Composites Australia’s technical reference material, widely used by students, engineers and industry practitioners.

→ composite fabrication processes in Australian manufacturing.

Standards, regulation and safety

Standards, regulatory compliance and work health and safety are central to the effective application of composite materials in manufacturing and infrastructure. The sector operates within Australian and international standards frameworks that support quality, durability, safety and performance.

Composites Australia works with industry participants and Standards Australia to support the maintenance and development of standards for composite materials and their applications in established and emerging markets. The association also facilitates access to work health and safety guidance to support safe manufacturing practices across the sector.

Workforce capability, education and training

Australian composites manufacturing relies on a skilled workforce across trades, technical, engineering and professional roles. Education and training pathways span vocational education and training, higher education and professional development, supporting both entry-level skills and advanced manufacturing capability.

Composites Australia supports awareness of accredited apprenticeship pathways, training providers and industry-aligned professional development activities, including technical workshops and industry events.

→ composites education and training pathways in Australia.

Technical knowledge and application

The effective use of composite materials in manufacturing requires access to sound technical guidance and applied engineering knowledge. Technical papers and reference material support engineers, designers and specifiers introducing composites into products and structures where performance, durability, corrosion resistance and lightweighting are critical considerations.

Composites Australia facilitates access to technical resources authored by recognised international experts to support informed design and manufacturing decisions.

→ technical papers on composite materials and engineering.

Case studies and industry applications

Australian composites manufacturing supports an increasingly diverse range of commercial applications across multiple sectors. Industry case studies demonstrate manufacturing capability, innovation and the commercial deployment of composite materials by Australian businesses.

→ Australian composites manufacturing case studies.

Find Australian composites manufacturing capability

To identify a composite manufacturer, fabricator or material supplier operating in Australia, use the Composites Australia directory to search by capability, process, material or location.

→ find an Australian composite manufacturer or supplier