MICHAEL KEMENY, MD - KNAPP AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Tell us who you are.
I’m Michael Kemeny, Managing Director of KNAPP Australia and New Zealand. I began my career in Austria focusing on telecommunications and software management.
My journey with KNAPP started in solution and project leadership roles across international markets, including China and Australia. Today, I lead KNAPP’s ANZ operations, working with customers and teams to deliver intelligent automation and intralogistics solutions that address real operational, workforce and space challenges.
KNAPP Australia has grown significantly over the past decade, evolving from a small local team into a regional automation leader supporting some of the country’s most complex retail, healthcare, pharmaceutical and manufacturing operations. As part of the global KNAPP Group, we combine over 70 years of innovation with deep local expertise – designing, implementing and supporting end-to-end automation systems tailored to the Australian and New Zealand markets.
A key part of this evolution is how we approach flexibility and future readiness. Solutions such as AeroBot reflect a shift towards modular, infrastructure-light automation that allows businesses to start small, adapt quickly and grow over time – a critical capability in the ANZ market where space, labour and demand can change rapidly.
My focus is on building long-term capability – for our customers, our people and the broader industry. Automation is not just about efficiency; it’s about resilience, adaptability and creating sustainable future-ready supply chains.
What is your primary market in ANZ?
Our primary markets in ANZ include grocery and retail distribution, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food, manufacturing and e-commerce. These sectors are experiencing rapid growth and complexity, driven by rising customer expectations, labour constraints and the need for greater operational resilience.
What is the most significant macro-level shift or challenge (e.g., supply chain resilience, labour shortages) that is currently driving customer investment?
The most significant shift is the growing pressure on traditional warehouse models. Limited labour availability, high real estate costs, vast transport distances and sustainability targets mean flexibility is no longer optional. Automation has become essential not just for efficiency, but for business continuity and long-term competitiveness.
How does your company help them to overcome it?
KNAPP Australia helps customers rethink how space, labour and technology work together. We deliver modular, scalable automation solutions that maximise existing footprints, reduce reliance on labour and improve throughput and accuracy. Our approach allows customers to start small, scale intelligently and adapt over time without major disruption.
How is your company deploying or preparing for the integration of AI-driven solutions in industrial automation?
AI is already embedded across KNAPP’s software, robotics and system intelligence. Our focus is on applied, practical AI that enhances decision-making, system adaptability and operational transparency. Rather than adding complexity, AI should simplify operations, improve predictability and support smarter long-term planning.
Beyond existing product roadmaps, what transformative technology or concept do you believe will have the greatest disruptive impact on the Australian and New Zealand industrial sector in the next five years?
Flexible, infrastructure-light automation will be most disruptive. Solutions that operate within existing buildings, use standard racking and scale incrementally will define the future.Autonomous robotics and modular systems enable businesses to respond quickly to change without being locked into rigid, high-capex designs.
How does your company culture support innovation and adaptability in such a rapidly evolving industry?
Culture is central to how KNAPP Australia innovates. Our values – openness, courage, appreciation, creativity and reliability, guide decision-making, collaboration and continuous improvement. We foster transparent communication, encourage initiative and support creative problem-solving, while maintaining the reliability our customers depend on.
What strategies have you found most effective in attracting and retaining top talent?
Attracting and retaining talent in ANZ requires a people-first approach. We focus on meaningful, high-impact work, professional development, flexible working arrangements and a supportive environment that values the whole person. Employees are drawn to KNAPP because they can grow their careers while contributing to projects that shape real supply chains.
What's your long-term vision for the role of automation in your sector?
Our long-term vision is for automation to enable smarter, more resilient and more sustainable supply chains. Automation should empower people, improve adaptability and allow businesses to respond confidently to future uncertainty – not just optimise today’s operations.
As a leader in a field defined by constant technological advancement, what is the most important principle or philosophy that guides your decision-making and long-term planning?
Future readiness. Every decision is guided by how well it supports long-term adaptability, scalability and customer value. Technology must serve real operational needs and deliver lasting impact, not short-term gains.
What's one thing you know now that you wish you'd known when you first started in this field?
Succesful automation is as much about people as it is about technology. Early engagement, change management and operational ownership are critical. When automation is treated as an operational journey – not just a project, it delivers far grater long-term value.
