In focus | bustech group

METRO TASMANIA RECEIVES 100TH BUSTECH GROUP BUS

Bustech Group and local Tasmanian company Elphinstone have supplied operator Metro Tasmania with its 100th bus – the milestone coming from a partnership spanning three years and creating local employment opportunities for Tasmanians.

The largest Australian-owned bus manufacturer Bustech Group and iconic Tasmanian company Elphinstone celebrated the achievement at the Elphinstone Southern Prospect plant near Wynyard, Tasmania, on Monday, April 19.

Tasmanian deputy premier, Jeremy Rockliff, congratulated all stakeholders involved in delivering the home-grown product and announced a further $10 million investment over four years to Tasmania’s advanced manufacturing and defence industries.

“We have a skilled workforce and we want to support small- and medium-sized businesses [SMEs]. A great example of it is here today, where we celebrated the cutting of the cake of the 100th Metro bus, [from] a highly

skilled workforce right here on the North-West Coast. And we want to build capability right across Tasmania,” affi rmed Rockliff at the event.

JOB CREATION

The delivery of Bustech’s 100th bus created 30 direct advanced manufacturing jobs and more than 60 indirect jobs, according to the group.

Bustech Group also engaged local suppliers to ensure a signifi cant proportion of local content was used to build the buses for Tasmania, it states.

“Bustech Group’s fi rst fully Tasmanian-built bus rolled off the production line in November 2017, and we are incredibly proud to be delivering our 100th bus for Tasmania,” said Christian Reynolds, Bustech Group executive director.

“This project has demonstrated the strong capacity and capability of Australian manufacturing – not only through building buses in Tasmania, but also by partnering with local SMEs and sourcing a local supply chain.

“In turn, this investment in localised manufacturing generated a number of opportunities far greater than just the local bus builds; we also integrated several suppliers into our national operations,” continued Reynolds.

MODERN, RELIABLE FLEET

The $45 million project was the single biggest investment in public transport in Tasmania’s history to offer a more comfortable, accessible and environmentally friendly transport experience for Tasmanians, the group states.

“This was the fi rst time that any Australian government-procured buses came from an Australian OEM [original equipment manufacturer]; designing, engineering and manufacturing buses in Australia with the highest level of local content,” said Bustech Group chief commercial offi cer Damien Brown.

All 100 XDi buses manufactured by Bustech Group for the state feature a modern, contemporary design with 51 seats, airconditioning and the lowestemitting diesel engines available, Bustech says. This means a smooth, comfortable and enjoyable experience for both passengers and drivers, it adds.

Elphinstone executive director Kelly Elphinstone said: “Our collaboration with Bustech Group to manufacture and deliver these state-of-the-art buses in Tasmania has given us the opportunity to develop new skills and build on our advanced manufacturing capabilities, while also securing jobs for our local workforce.”

HYBRID TECH

Alongside the 100th bus delivery, Bustech Group also manufactured and delivered four hybrid electric buses for Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain in 2019.

The eco-friendly buses were the fi rst in the state and marked a paradigm shift towards more sustainable transport solutions for Tasmania, the group explains.

Looking ahead, Bustech Group will continue to support the Tasmanian government’s commitment to net zero-emissions and work towards achieving the common goals of reliable and emission-free public transport solutions, it says.

The Tasmanian state government

We are incredibly proud to be delivering our 100th bus for Tasmania.

announced a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050, with the transport sector producing the highest emissions of all the sectors of the state’s economy.

Bustech Group supports the government’s commitment to the uptake of zero-emission transit solutions, as well as the continuity of local manufacturing, which signifi cantly contributes to more sustainable, thriving and liveable communities, Bustech states.

“We know that the industry is moving away from diesel-powered transport and quickly shifting to zero-emission solutions. Bustech Group are primed to support the industry, our customers and government agencies across Australia to successfully transition to electric and hydrogen energy solutions whilst also retaining a strong focus on customer experience,” said Reynolds.

“Importantly, the roll-out of this new technology will bring additional employment opportunities and advanced manufacturing growth for Australia.”

Opposite:

The delivery of Bustech’s 100th bus was celebrated at the Elphinstone Southern Prospect plant near Wynyard, Tasmania.

Above:

Elphinstone executive director Kelly Elphinstone (far left) says the Elphinstone’s collaboration with Bustech Group gave the company the opportunity to develop new skills and secure local jobs.