A big contract and a state award suggest Geelong’s beleaguered manufacturing sector still has a local future.
Quickstep and MHG Asia Pacific earned praise from local politicians for their respective wins just months before Ford closes its Geelong manufacturing operations.
Quickstep, an advanced carbon-fibre composite materials manufacturer, could win work from Australia’s $50 billion submarines order after signing a memorandum of understanding with the French builder, said Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.
Quickstep would work with DCNS to produce prototype carbon fibre components for the new hubs, she said.
“The expansion of local production would create benefits for the region and build on our growing reputation as an advanced manufacturing hub.
“Quickstep’s potential participation in the Australian Government’s new submarine program complements its involvement in the JSF F-35 Program, the world’s largest defence aerospace program.
“Quickstep was awarded $1.76m under the Geelong Region Innovation Investment Fund (GRIIF) to develop a $5 million automotive pilot production facility at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds, creating 30 new jobs by June 2017. It is terrific to see 26 staff already employed in production and R&D.
“Quickstep is also manufacturing at its Waurn Ponds factory hi-tech glass fibre components for Thales Australia’s Hawkei armoured vehicle for the Australian Defence Force – an agreement worth around $8m.”
The company also produces carbon fibre components for Ford’s Ford Falcon XR6 Sprint.
North Geelong-based MHG Asia Pacific won its Defence, Transport and Construction Technologies Award at a 2016 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame presentation last Friday.
The 45-year-old company designs and manufactures products for construction and consumer goods.
The multinational business had been “very active” sourcing new-business opportunities in the food processing and packaging industry, said the State Government.
“The company intends to bring proven skills and experience in advanced manufacturing, customer service, and global and local supply chain management.
“The company was recognised for its excellence in … a high-growth sector critical to economic growth across the state.”
Geelong MP Christine Couzens welcomed MHG’s win.
“Congratulations to MHG Asia Pacific for taking out the Manufacturing Hall of Fame award, driving the growth of the defence, transport and construction technologies sectors and shaping the future of manufacturing in Geelong,” she said.
The contract and award were a bright lining for the city’s manufacturing sector, which has lost thousands of jobs in the past decade and is bracing for hundreds more to go when Ford closes its Geelong factory in October.
