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Noske-Kaeser and ENGIE Axima have officially opened their new manufacturing facility in South Australia, adding to the suite of national and international companies from across the defence sector choosing South Australia to establish their Australian presence.
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The facility is producing air conditioning and ventilation systems for the 12 Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels. Seven workers are employed at the facility, and the company hopes to double the workforce in the next 12 months.
Premier Steven Marshall, who officially opened the new facility at Salisbury North, said the decision to locate themselves in South Australia shows the confidence major companies have in the state’s booming defence industry.
"When I see this sort of investment in our state, it fills me with confidence about where our defence industry is currently at, and the direction in which it’s heading. This facility will undertake critical work, manufacturing the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems for the Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels being built at Osborne," Premier Marshall said.
Vice president of international business development for ENGIE Axima, Guillaume Weisrock, said ENGIE Axima’s investment in its Adelaide production and testing facility clearly marks the commitment to being part of Australia’s current and future naval programs.
"ENGIE Axima’s investment in an Adelaide production and testing facility marks our commitment to becoming a trusted and long-term participant in Australia’s current and future naval programs," Weisrock said.
"It was obvious from the start to set up in Adelaide given its growing marine industrial environment and the support of South Australian authorities."
General manager of Noske-Kaeser Marine Australia, David Owen, said the opening of this new facility presents an exciting future for the business.
Owen added, "This facility refocuses our business operations from predominantly service and support back to our roots in Australia, which began with our involvement in the Anzac frigate program in 1992."
The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions and the OPV will be the primary ADF asset for maritime patrol and response duties. A competitive evaluation process (CEP) commenced in late 2015 and concluded with the signing of a contract with Lürssen Australia on 31 January 2018.
The project will move to Henderson in Western Australia in 2020 where 10 OPVs will be built by Civmec in partnership with Lürssen Australia. It’s estimated the $3.6 billion SEA 1180 project will create around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
ASC serves Australia's naval defence capabilities, with more than 2,500 employees across three facilities in SA and WA. ASC has evolved into Australia's largest specialised defence shipbuilding organisation, with naval design and engineering resources unparalleled within Australia's defence industry.
Lürssen is a global leader in designing and building ships of the highest quality for demanding customers all over the world. Lürssen beat out bids from Dutch company Damen, which was also partnered with ASC and Civmec, as well as German company Fassmer, which was in a joint venture with Austal, for the SEA 1180 project.
Civmec is an integrated, multi-disciplinary construction and engineering services provider to the oil and gas, metals and minerals, infrastructure, and marine and defence sectors. Headquartered in Henderson, WA, Civmec has regional offices in Broome (WA), Darwin (Northern Territory), Newcastle and Sydney (NSW), and Gladstone (Queensland).
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
