While the manufacturing industry in Australia has faced many challenges in the last decade, a clutch of companies involved in the development, manufacturing and distribution of mining equipment have been very successful.

Conditions for Australian-based manufacturers has deteriorated as a result of competition from regions where low labour costs drive down the price of comparable products. The strengthening Australian dollar has also made it more difficult to combat cheap overseas products. Furthermore, the proposed carbon tax will be to the detriment of manufacturers, just as the resources super profit tax would disadvantage Australian-based mining companies.