An internationally-renowned Australian microphone manufacturer has given itself some future leg-room, moving to a new site and eyeing new manufacturing methods.

Sydney-based company Rode Microphones has invested $7 million to expand its factory in the suburb of Silverwater.

The company has also struck a deal with the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative Research Centre (AMCRC) to look at new methods of making its devices.

Rode wants to develop a sub-miniature microphone for use in hearing aids, voice recognition devices and phones – the new product for the company would put it in competition with existing makers Knowles and Sonyin, which make the microphones for Apple and Siemens.

The tiny new microphone is a real engineering challenge for the company, which is more accustomed to producing large microphones for recording studios.

Just like the manufacturers across industries – Rode are looking to 3D-printing techniques to overcome costs and challenges in making the minuscule microphone.

That is where the AMCRC comes in.

The Australian Government-funded group helps companies move into improved methods by introducing them to new technological possibilities.

Without the AMCRC’s contribution, Rode would not have been able to embark on their latest audio engineering endeavour, says chief executive Peter Freedman.

“It’s so complex, it’s not feasible for us to do on our own,” Freedman says.

“We need their [AMCRC’s] help to find the right people.”

Rode and 47 other companies have contributed funds to the AMCRC’s recent work, with an intellectual property and profit sharing deal over the microphone still to be worked out.

It is hoped that such program will continue to receive interest and backing from private groups to move ahead, with government funding being cut from many sectors of industry research.

Groups such as the AMCRC and CSIRO have contributed heavily to innovation and the ability to continue manufacturing in Australia, but reports last week say almost a quarter of CSIRO staff face job losses under government cost-cutting.