DSM plans laser-cut furniture project in Darwin

Furniture production and digital assembly

Darwin Sheet Metal and Laser Cutting (DSM) is developing a $4.16 million project for modular stainless steel furniture serving remote housing in the Northern Territory. The 18-month collaboration with Liquid Interactive and WTD Construction includes planned adoption of a Trumpf TruLaser 7000 machine. A $650,098 co-investment from the Territory Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund, administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), supports the project.

DSM’s offering combines flat-pack furniture with digitally guided assembly and spare-parts reordering. Owner Ashton Simpson expects the investment to strengthen local supply chains. The project forecasts 11 new jobs in Darwin within its first three years and approximately $3 million in new revenue. These are expected outcomes of the investment.

Automated laser cutting for furniture components.
QR-coded technology for assembly guidance and replacement parts.
Local collaboration on production and remote construction.

Co-investment for commercial manufacturing

The Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund opened applications on September 21, 2021, as a $7.5 million partnership between the Northern Territory Government and AMGC. Its original framework targeted manufacturing capability, investment and jobs across the Territory’s priority sectors. Projects included commercialisation of new products and processes, with support for the transition from prototypes or pilots to full commercial operations. Early-stage, small-scale research projects were another part of the fund’s remit.

The launch framework required industry-matched funding and collaboration involving a research partner and at least one industry partner. It provided for awards from $25,000 to $500,000, with larger amounts possible according to scale and impact. These figures describe the fund’s original design.

Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre

Remote housing programme context

The National Partnership for Remote Housing NT provides a broader setting for the furniture project. A $4 billion investment supports plans for up to 2,700 homes across 73 remote Aboriginal communities over ten years. Housing delivery involves consultation with Aboriginal people, land councils and Aboriginal Housing NT to address community needs. Those programme-wide targets cover housing construction across the Territory; they do not represent orders awarded to DSM.