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Six local firms have secured a combined $1.2 million in grants to fund the expansion of their global footprint.
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The Commonwealth government has awarded $1.2 million in funding to local SMEs across five states via the Defence Global Competitiveness grants program.
South Australia-based Electro Cad Australia and NSW-based Repetition Engineering secured the largest grants, each receiving $240,000.
Electro Cad Australia is expected to leverage the funding to install a clean room, and purchase equipment to manufacture complex defence components in a bid to bolster export orders with international Defence companies.
Repetition Engineering, which trades as Challenge Engineering, has committed to using the funds to purchase specialist machinery and manufacture new machined components for export.
Other recipients include:
- South Australia-based JTM Gaskets — secured $211,260 to buy new equipment, enabling it to produce a higher volume of products;
- Western Australia-based Orbital Corporation — secured $195,624 to fund the expansion of its production capability for propulsion systems and flight componentry used to develop tactical unmanned aerial vehicles;
- Victoria-based Trakka Corp — secured $193,192 to acquire equipment to perform in-house environmental stress screening for components they produce in a bid to enhance Trakka’s quality assurance process; and
- Queensland-based Gaardtech — secured $166,000 to buy new equipment and increase its dedicated fabrication capabilities.
“Small businesses that develop some of the most innovative and world-leading defence capabilities are the backbone of Australia’s industrial base,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price.
“From acquiring new specialist components, to manufacturing engines for unmanned aerial vehicles, or making new static targets for international customers, these six small businesses are expanding into global markets, generating local jobs and strengthening the sovereign industrial base on which Defence relies.”
Minister Price noted a spike in global demand for Australian products and services.
“By supporting these companies to invest in new equipment or to increase their manufacturing capabilities, it is enabling them to increase their production capabilities and offer more competitive-priced equipment internationally,” she said.
[Related: Defence awards new tranche of SICP grants]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
