Queensland manufacturers make first delivery on Australian Defence Force contracts

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Image credit: www.defence.gov.au

Rocklea-based Haulmark Trailers and Logan’s Holmwood Highgate have started delivery on their job-generating Australian Defence Force contracts at the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera.

Image credit: www.defence.gov.au
Image credit: www.defence.gov.au

The two Queensland companies, along with Wacol-based Penske, have been contracted to manufacture 1700 truck trailers and 250 fuel and water modules to go on the back of the Army’s new trucks, which are being produced by Germany-based Rheinmetall.

The German company was selected to supply more than 2500 medium and heavy military trucks to the Australian Army, the first of which was delivered on Thursday at an official handover ceremony at Enoggera on Brisbane’s northside.

State Development Minister and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said projects like these brought high-value jobs in engineering, electronics and systems integration in Queensland.

“These contracts are expected to support the current combined workforce of about 150 and will create about 115 new jobs,” he said.

“This demonstrates Queensland companies are more than capable of meeting the Australian Defence Force needs on land, in the air and on the sea. Queensland continues to be on the front-line of supporting industry and defence.”

According to the Minister, the trucks, trailers and fuel and water modules will be progressively delivered during 2016 through to 2020 and will be supplied to army bases around the country.

He said his department’s defence industries unit continued to work hard to ensure Queensland manufacturing companies were equipped to bid for defence contracts.

“The State Government will soon release 10 year action plans to guide further industry development in defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing,” Dr Lynham concluded.