Source: Auckland Council
If you travel past Auckland’s many factories, it’s not immediately obvious how much these businesses contribute to our everyday life. But they do, producing everything from stainless-steel tubing to food products, plastics, electronics and specialist components.
They’re also a very important part of New Zealand’s prosperity. Auckland’s manufacturing firms keep thousands of people in work and contribute billions to the economy. In the year to the end of March 2025, Auckland’s manufacturing sector contributed more than $12.5 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, more than a third of the country’s total manufacturing contribution.
Yet behind the factory doors, many of these businesses face a common challenge – how to keep up in a world where digital technology is moving faster than ever.
A new initiative called Digital Manufacturing Light (DMLight) is looking to change that. DMLight helps small factories add simple, low-cost digital tools to their existing machines and processes – things like basic sensors and dashboards that show what’s happening on the factory floor in real time.
Tested and adopted from a University of Cambridge initiative by the University of Auckland with support and investment from Auckland Council, DMLight shows that a little bit of tech can go a long way to improve productivity.
Accessible, low-cost DMLight digital tools can quickly help factory staff spot problems sooner and avoid bottlenecks. A sensor showing when a machine stops unexpectedly can save hours of guesswork – hours saved can mean fewer delays and stronger local businesses.
For manufacturing firms, using DMLight is like upgrading your existing car with new sensors rather than buying a brand-new vehicle.
The Government has now committed up to $475,000 per year for three years to expand DMLight. Starting 1 April 2026, the programme will support at least 180 small and medium-sized manufacturers across Auckland, Waikato, Northland and Bay of Plenty. Support includes help choosing the right digital tools, hands-on installation, and training so local workers can install, run and maintain the technology themselves.
Case study
During the Auckland pilot for DMLight, the University of Auckland and Auckland Council team worked with companies such Spiraweld Stainless Ltd, which retrofitted its older, semi-automatic spiral pipe welding machine using the DMLight method. The company added low-cost, off‑the‑shelf components (computer‑vision camera, stepper motor actuator, Raspberry Pi controller and HMI) to automate welding-gap control with minimal disruption and cost. No existing equipment needed to be replaced – just the addition of approximately $1000 in hardware of low-cost tools to give operators clearer information.
To learn more
Any small or medium-sized manufacturer in Auckland, Waikato, Northland and Bay of Plenty can reach out to the programme team at dmlight@auckland.ac.nz to learn more or register interest.
