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Factory of the Future to Accelerate Growth of Advanced Manufacturing BAE Systems Australia welcomed the South Australian Government’s funding announcement in the 2020 State Budget, which will fast track the development of the Line Zero – Factory of the Future.

Premier Steven Marshall visited the site for the construction of Stage One of the Line Zero – Factory of the Future facility to see first-hand some of the advanced technologies and processes that will be supported by the State’s $5 million commitment, matching Flinders University’s investment in the initiative. The Line Zero - Factory of the Future will be a world class manufacturing accelerator, embedded within South Australia’s Tonsley Innovation District.

Driven by Flinders University, it began with a temporary pilot ‘pop up’ factory developed in collaboration with BAE Systems Maritime Australia. The $10 million co-funding enables a permanent Factory of the Future to now be built.

BAE Systems Maritime Australia Managing Director, Craig Lockhart, said “Digital shipbuilding is all about connectivity – not just within the physical and digital shipyard but with our supply chain and customer – and the partnership between BAE Systems Maritime Australia and Flinders University at Tonsley is creating a digital and advanced manufacturing test environment to improve productivity, quality and safety outcomes at Osborne. It is our ambition that the digital and technological advancements demonstrated by the supply chain will lead to improved productivity, safety and quality outcomes, equipping our highly-skilled workforce with Industry 4.0 technologies that support activities undertaken in a modern digital shipyard.” Defence Jobs Focus of New Naval Shipbuilding College Agreement South Australian defence jobs are at the forefront of a new Cooperation Agreement signed between the South Australian Government and the Federal Government’s Naval Shipbuilding College (NSC).

The agreement will expand the highly skilled naval shipbuilding workforce to deliver on future naval shipbuilding projects. More than 4,000 workers will be needed over the next four years to meet the construction and sustainment requirements of the future Hunter class frigate, future Attack class submarine and Collins class submarine in South Australia, as well as thousands of additional jobs in supply chain and supporting industries.

Premier Steven Marshall said the agreement demonstrates his government’s fierce commitment to create thousands of defence jobs in South Australia.

“This collaboration with the NSC is a crucial step for our state’s shipbuilding future,” Premier Marshall said. “It demonstrates a clear commitment to grow our local talent pool by establishing and developing new workforce pipelines in South Australia.”

“South Australia will be home to over $90 billion in continuous naval shipbuilding projects, with a projected lifespan of more than 50 years, resulting in thousands of skilled and professional jobs. Meeting demands of this scale are only achievable through steadfast collaborative effort and dedicated programs, and that’s what our partnership with NSC represents,” Premier Marshall said.

Queensland Committed to Landing Multi-billion Defence Contract Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rheinmetall Defence Australia reconfirming a long-term partnership that is now firmly focused on attracting to Queensland the LAND 400 Phase 3 contract valued at up to $27 billion.

The Premier said Rheinmetall has the full support of the Queensland Government in landing the Phase 3 contract that will deliver 450 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Australian Army.

“Rheinmetall estimates the Phase 3 project could create an additional 500 jobs in addition to the 450 highly skilled positions being brought to Queensland through their Phase 2 win,” the Premier said.

“Rheinmetall’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) here in Redbank is the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facility in Australia, if not the world, and it would definitely be a compelling consideration in the Commonwealth’s LAND 400 Phase 3 tender evaluation.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said when the Commonwealth selects its preferred tenderer, Rheinmetall’s MILVEHCOE will be fully operational, fully staffed and will have the necessary supply chains in place. “Rheinmetall’s Lynx IFV is specifically developed to meet the Army’s requirements and the Hungarian Government is already signed up as a customer. This means the Queensland-made vehicle is a strong contender for the contract,” he said. “The Government’s strong support of this project is part of our economic recovery plan, to support projects and companies like Rheinmetall that create jobs and employ hundreds of Queenslanders.”

Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director, Gary Stewart, said the partnership with the Queensland Government enabled the company to establish a sovereign military vehicle capability to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “Every Rheinmetall employee understands that equipping the ADF with the most advanced combat and logistics capabilities is our primary objective,” Mr Stewart said.

“It is what drives us, and why we partnered with the Queensland Government to establish MILVEHCOE as a sovereign industrial manufacturing base for Australia. Rheinmetall is also recruiting and skilling as we move into the commissioning phase of the MILVEHCOE. Queenslanders are living in Germany, designing and building Boxer vehicles, so they can step into senior roles on their return to Brisbane over the next two years.”

The Premier said Queensland is proud to be Australia’s khaki state. “We’re at the forefront of the nation’s capabilities across a number of high-tech military platforms, and this facility in particular is now on its way to leading Australia’s advance on global military vehicle markets.”

Rheinmetall has also a Memorandum of Understanding with TAFE Queensland, which is delivering a full range of skills development programs to suit Rheinmetall’s current and future needs.

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Thales, Austal and Tropical Reef Shipyard Sign Shipbuilding MOU Thales Australia, Austal and Tropical Reef Shipyard have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cairns, agreeing to work collaboratively in support of the Federal Government’s National Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise.

The MOU aims to prioritise the development of local professional, technical and trade skills in far north Queensland, focusing on the capability assurance of the Royal Australian Navy’s assets, through the delivery of project management, and ship repair and defect rectification services.

Max Kufner (Vice President, Above Water Systems, Thales Australia) said the MOU will help ensure Navy and the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) can achieve and sustain mission capability.

“As Navy transforms its sustainment model, this MOU helps cement the close collaborative relationships that are key to ensuring we help deliver an integrated regional sustainment environment,” Kufner said.

“I am delighted to be working closely with Austal and Tropical Reef Shipyard and many other local businesses to ensure Navy gets the best support and sustainment outcomes, whilst maximising opportunities for local companies.”

“Local Cairns businesses have played an essential role in delivering the sustainment of the Armidale Class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy,” Kufner said. Naval Group Australia Launches Local South Australian Jobs Package Naval Group Australia has launched a major new jobs package that targets workers, ranging from office staff to engineers, as it aims to add 100 people by April and double its total South Australianbased workforce by the end of 2021. The ‘sub what you do’ campaign will run across social and traditional media, and invites people to make the jump from their existing work to ‘build a submarine instead’.

Naval Group Australia Chief Executive Officer, John Davis, said the company was seeking a range of trade and professional skills as it geared up for the generational construction project, and that people who had never even considered a career in defence could make a difference.

“Designing and building Australia’s 12 Attack Class Submarines is one of the most significant undertakings in our nation’s history,” Davis said. “We need Australians from right across the country to ‘sub what they do’ and become part of delivering this unique and exciting capability to Australia. We are offering great jobs that will turn into remarkable careers. You may have never imagined yourself working in defence, but we want you.”

Davis said people could use skills they already have, but build a submarine instead. “We already employ everyone from apprentice welders and human resources professionals to computer software technicians and engineers. We have many of the functions that you would associate with any other business, plus the unmatchable excitement of building a submarine.”

Modern Manufacturing Initiative Opens Funding for National Manufacturing Priority Areas The Federal Government’s investment—which has been designed to super-charge manufacturing and grow jobs—is now open to businesses, with applications sought under the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI). Grants awarded under the MMI will help manufacturers to scaleup production, commercialise their products and operations, and integrate into domestic and global supply chains.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews, said the MMI will build on the billions of dollars in investment to get the economic conditions right – and create meaningful, long-term change for Australian manufacturing.

“This matched government funding is designed to support our manufacturers to become competitive, resilient and scale-up to take on the world, which will in turn create jobs for Australians – both now and for generations to come,” Minister Andrews said. “Funding from the MMI will help boost investment in the growth of the manufacturing sector, enhance Australia’s reputation, open up new markets, create new skilled jobs and increase exports.”

To guide the types of projects the Federal Government will back, industry-led road maps are also being released. Funding can be sought under the Government’s six National Manufacturing Priorities: Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Food and Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling and Clean Energy, and Defence. PMG Awarded DISP Membership Precision Metal Group (PMG) was recently accepted into the Federal Government’s Defence Industry Security Program (DISP). In addition to their ISO 27001 Information Security Management certification, DISP membership demonstrates PMG’s strong focus on cyber security in the delivery of their services. Managed by the Defence Industry Security Office (DISO), the DISP supports Australian businesses to understand and meet their security obligations when engaging in Defence projects, contracts and tenders. It is essentially security vetting for Australian businesses.

Coregas Awarded Supply of Gas to Incat Coregas has recently been awarded supply of liquid argon to Incat, which is a leading manufacturer in Tasmania, and builder of the world’s fastest, efficient, environmentally clean, and high-speed ships. Incat employs approximately 500 people, and is an important contributor to the strength of the Tasmanian economy.

“Coregas is proud to now be an important supplier to Incat Tasmania, and is looking forward to a strong and lengthy business relationship,” said Peter Kotsovolos (Regional Sales Manager, Coregas).

Simon Fleming, Purchasing and Logistics Manager at Incat, said, “Incat is proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Coregas, and we look forward to working together through these challenging times. Coregas has a proven track record as a reliable and efficient supplier of gas, and ticks all of the boxes in relation to the needs of large manufacturing businesses, such as Incat – one-time delivery of a quality product at a competitive cost.”