Australia has embraced rooftop solar like few other countries. The next frontier is energy storage, where smarter manufacturing and better technology will play a crucial role in helping households reduce electricity costs and improve energy independence. Fox ESS is investing heavily in that future. The company recently opened its new smart manufacturing facility in Wenzhou, China, showcasing the next generation of automated battery and inverter production. Among the first Australian visitors was Fox ESS brand ambassador and swimming legend Ian Thorpe, who toured the facility to see firsthand how the company’s products are designed, built, and tested.
For Thorpe, the visit reinforced not only the scale of Fox ESS’s global ambitions, but also the innovation driving the company’s commitment to delivering smarter energy solutions for Australian homes.
A new benchmark for battery manufacturing
Opened in June, the new Fox ESS smart factory spans more than 46,000 square metres and has already increased production efficiency by 66.7 per cent. The facility represents a significant investment in advanced manufacturing technologies and forms part of Fox ESS’s long-term strategy to support growing global demand for residential energy storage.
Automation plays a central role throughout the facility. Highly automated production lines manufacture a battery pack every seven seconds, while maintaining an overall automation level of more than 60 per cent. Every product is also tracked through a comprehensive end-to-end traceability system, providing complete visibility throughout the manufacturing process and helping ensure consistent quality and reliable delivery.
For Australian homeowners investing in long-term energy solutions, this level of manufacturing precision helps deliver greater confidence in product quality and performance.
Ian Thorpe experiences the future of manufacturing
Visiting the factory marked a first for Thorpe, who had never previously toured a manufacturing facility in China.
“It’s been an incredibly exciting year becoming Fox ESS’s brand ambassador,” said Thorpe. “Getting to know the people, understanding what Fox ESS can deliver, what they’ve done in Australia, and what they’re doing around the world, has made the opportunity feel real. And today, seeing the factory here in Wenzhou, it’s gone above and beyond what I expected.”
The visit left a lasting impression, particularly the sheer scale of the operation and the sophisticated automation throughout the facility.
“I felt like a school child experiencing it all, the scale of the factory, and knowing this isn’t the end because Fox ESS is still growing,” he added. “The automation is highly advanced, but there’s still appropriate human engagement for quality control.”
Thorpe said the Wenzhou facility was the most advanced manufacturing operation he had visited anywhere in the world, highlighting the balance between automation and human oversight as one of its greatest strengths.
Smarter automation delivers better outcomes
One of the standout features of the new facility is its Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse.
Designed to maximise storage capacity while improving manufacturing efficiency, the intelligent warehouse can automatically transport newly completed products to their allocated storage location in around one minute. This seamless integration helps streamline production, reduce handling times, and improve operational efficiency across the entire factory.
Combined with advanced automation and product traceability, these technologies help Fox ESS maintain consistent manufacturing standards while scaling production to meet increasing global demand.
For customers, this translates into greater confidence that every battery and inverter has been manufactured under tightly controlled conditions using modern production techniques.
Why manufacturing innovation matters for Australian households
While automation may seem far removed from the average Australian home, its benefits are directly linked to product reliability, consistency, and long-term value.
As electricity and gas prices continue to place pressure on household budgets, more Australians are looking to maximise the value of their rooftop solar systems through battery storage. Smarter manufacturing supports that transition by enabling companies such as Fox ESS to continue improving quality while expanding production to meet growing demand.
Referencing Fox ESS’s “Higher, Faster, Smarter” campaign, Thorpe said the message reflected much more than manufacturing capability.
“For me, higher and faster is about capacity, manufacturing, and installation, then smarter is about making economically and ethically better choices,” he said. “Today I saw that smarter application means delivering things more efficiently and productively.”
Thorpe believes battery storage is the logical next step in Australia’s clean energy journey.
“Australia has one of the highest rates of household solar adoption in the world. The next step is to optimise it with home batteries, storing excess sunshine for your own use or selling it back to the grid when prices are higher.”
As more households seek greater energy independence and protection from rising electricity prices, battery technology is expected to become an increasingly important part of Australia’s energy future.
A partnership built on shared environmental values
Thorpe said partnering with Fox ESS represents more than simply becoming a brand ambassador. It reflects a shared commitment to helping households make better environmental choices through accessible clean energy technology.
“Australia is blessed with abundant sunshine,” he added, “and it’s the perfect place to make the most of nature’s gift.”
Thorpe also reflected on his first visit to mainland China in 2004 and the remarkable transformation he has witnessed since then.
“Now China has creativity, a domestic market that can develop products, and the ability to export to the world,” he said.
Looking ahead, Thorpe believes raising awareness of modern home energy technology will be an important part of helping Australians better understand the benefits of battery storage.
“Moving forward, my responsibility is raising awareness that Fox ESS is the option Australians should consider.”
Fox ESS continues its global growth
Fox ESS continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading residential energy storage manufacturers. The company was ranked the number one residential energy storage provider by market share in 2025 by S&P Global Energy and Frost & Sullivan, highlighting its rapid growth across international markets.
With advanced manufacturing, increasing global demand, and a growing presence in Australia, the company’s investment in innovation demonstrates how the future of home energy storage is being built today.
For Australian homeowners considering solar batteries, that future promises smarter technology, greater reliability, and more opportunities to maximise the value of every kilowatt hour generated on their roof.
