The Andrews Labor Government is supporting the state's defence industry with new grants to help Victorian businesses compete for and win major contracts, growing local defence capabilities and creating jobs.
Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty Ben Carroll visited Amiga Engineering and announced round two recipients of the Victorian Land Systems Fund - Supply Chain Uplift Program, which will support Victorian companies to become part of Hanwha Defense Australia's LAND 8116 supply chain.
A total of more than $275,000 in grants will be awarded to four local companies that specialise in land systems defence to grow their business competitiveness and capabilities, supporting them to become part of Hanwha's delivery of the Commonwealth Government's $1 billion LAND 8116 Self-Propelled Howitzer program.
Hanwha has also secured the contract for the multi-billion LAND 400 Phase 3 program, the largest land defence contract ever awarded in Victoria. Around 600 direct jobs will be created from delivering the defence projects and hundreds more indirect jobs across the supply chain.
In Tullamarine, Amiga Engineering will pursue the first Australian certification for its 3D-printing machine to use Scalmalloy, a lightweight but high-strength material used in aerospace and defence manufacturing.
Broadmeadows-based Integra Systems will receive a grant to purchase and install new equipment into its manufacturing facility. Other companies benefiting from the grants are Total Precision based in Bayswater North and The Smart Think in Geelong.
Hanwha is establishing a $170 million Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence at the Avalon Airport Industrial Precinct and will require a strong local supply chain to deliver its defence programs in Victoria.
Victoria's defence sector supports around 24,300 jobs across the sector and contributes $8.4 billion to the Victorian economy each year.
To learn more and apply for the Supply Chain Uplift Program visit business.vic.gov.au/scup.
As stated by Minister for Manufacturing Sovereignty Ben Carroll
"We're backing local companies up for success and to win supply contracts - securing local jobs and driving innovation in our defence industry."
"Victoria is the home of armoured vehicle manufacturing in Australia, boasting one of the strongest defence supply chains in the country and we want to see more Victorian-made components used by global defence firms."
As stated by Amiga Engineering Managing Director Michael Bourchier
"This grant from the Supply Chain Uplift Program will be greatly beneficial to our competitiveness as supply chain partner and is giving us the chance to pursue the first Australian certification for our 3D-printing machine to use Scalmalloy, which is a huge achievement."
