The Morrison Government’s $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is a plan to help Australian manufacturing scale-up, become more competitive and resilient – driving jobs and skills, realising economic growth, and developing new products and services to improve the lives of Australians.
The Morrison Government is investing over $94 million in funding through the Modern Manufacturing Initiative to back 19 Victorian manufacturers to grow their businesses, create more jobs and compete internationally.
Geelong manufacturer Carbon Revolution will receive up to $12 million for their $33 million project to expand its advanced manufacturing of carbon fibre wheels to the global electric vehicle market. This funding will increase their capacity by around 94 per cent, equating to an additional 75,000 carbon-fibre wheels per annum and reduce unit costs by 60 per cent.
This project will position Australia as a leader in the production and export of carbon fibre wheels for the auto sector. This will create significant benefits into the broader local carbon fibre sector, provide better commercialisation pathways for research at Deakin University, and improve the cost effectiveness of production and improve the ability to secure global supply contracts for the growing EV market.
As a result of the Morrison Government’s investment in this project, Carbon Revolution is expected to create and retain over 300 additional skilled manufacturing jobs in Geelong.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emission Reduction Angus Taylor said this funding was a testament to the strength of the manufacturing sector in the state.
“Victoria has long been the centre of Australian manufacturing and remains a key source of revenue and jobs for the Victorian economy. Victorians have been strong and resilient in the face of a number of COVID-19 related lockdowns which posed real challenges to these manufacturers,” Minister Taylor said.
“That’s why we are backing our manufacturers to grow their business, create more jobs, more exports and more investment. The ability to make the things our country needs is a key part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy and a stronger future”
Liberal Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson said only the Morrison Government has a plan to support a strong, flexible and competitive Australian manufacturing sector in Victoria.
“With customers from Ford to Ferrari, Carbon Revolution is producing some of most technically advanced and highest performing wheels on the planet, keeping our region on the modern manufacturing map,” Senator Henderson said.
“Already a global technology powerhouse and major local success story, this $12 million grant from the Morrison Government, will enable sustainable wheel supply to the Global Electric Vehicle Market, driving cleaner technology and creating 323 smart jobs.”
Other recipients that will share in this funding include:
- Wilson Transformers will use its $8.7 million in funding to expand its capability to manufacture HV transformers (key components) to support the growth of renewables and batteries.
- Energys Australia will use $5.3 million in funding to expand the manufacture of its patented hydrogen fuel cell power products (FC Gensets).
- Selectronic Australia will use its $7.1 million in funding to leverage proven Australian IP to develop a best-in-class Australian made ecosystem of physical renewable solar system products.
- Visy Australia will use its $3.6 million in funding to build a new plant for a cardboard-based replacement for extruded polystyrene, the vast bulk of which currently goes to landfill.
- Advanced Recycling Victoria will use its $12 million in funding to develop a global scale advanced recycling facility in Victoria recycling waste plastic into Plasticrude that can be used as feedstock to manufacture new food grade plastics.
- Cablex will use its $4.9 million to manufacture highly complex and bespoke accredited electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) & electronic sub-assemblies to meet the emerging domestic & export demand in the space sector.
- Chobani will use its $3.3 million to accelerate their product development, shelf-life testing program and manufacturing expansion to new products and see export volumes in 2025 reach 5,780 tonnes.
- Patties Foods will use is $4.2 million to build an automated pick and place robotic system to pack its range of Four N Twenty party pies & sausage rolls, increasing throughput to meet growing export demand for ready-made meals.
- H W Greenham & Sons will use its $10 million to install state-of-the-art smart manufacturing equipment to create a new chilled beef processing line capable of processing 600 head of cattle per day.
- D’Orsogna will use its $2 million to install, test and commission a high-tech mincer, massager, slicing & packing line at the Merrifield facility, incorporating cutting-edge technology and increasing the plant capacity by 20 per cent.
- Ballantyne Dairy will use its $4 million to build the first ultra-high temperature (UHT), enzyme modified aseptic dairy flavour concentrate facility to be built in Australia. Ballantyne has collaborated with local dairy experts and engineers to establish the processing specification and equipment design.
- Casella Wines will use its $3 million to establish a modern whiskey distillery to support large scale whiskey manufacture, as well as support expansion of a new cellar door and tourism facility.
The Morrison Government is backing these Victorian businesses to turn good ideas into commercial success stories and build critical capability for the future.
Only the Coalition have a plan to deliver a strong economy and a stronger future for Victoria.