An investment of $21 million has supported the launch of a new advanced manufacturing facility in East Arm, Darwin, aimed at strengthening manufacturing capability in the Northern Territory and supporting local production of specialty glass products, according to the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
In a news release, AMGC said the facility, operated by Northern Glass Solutions (NGS), was officially opened in East Arm, Darwin by Bill Yan and Robyn Cahill.
Supported partly by the Northern Territory Government through the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund, the purpose-built automated manufacturing facility is designed to improve supply chain resilience by bringing specialty glass production closer to Territory markets, reducing transport distances by about 3,000 kilometres.
The project enables local production of a range of high-performance glass products, including triple- and quadruple-glazed, laminated, tempered, acoustic, fire-resistant, cyclone-resistant, safety, and bullet-resistant glass, with the latter not previously manufactured in Australia, according to the release.
NGS owner Jiayun Li said the co-investment model helped build confidence among partners and investors.
“Without the support of the Northern Territory Government and AMGC, this diversification would not have been possible. Co-investment through the AMEF gave our project partners and investors the confidence to back a bold idea and build something entirely new for the Territory,” Li said.
The facility has already installed more than $4.8 million in advanced manufacturing equipment to support high-precision cutting, processing, and quality control.
The project has created 12 jobs in its first six months of operation, including production, maintenance, technical, administrative, procurement, scheduling, and dispatch roles.
Over the first five years, the project is expected to support 22 new Territory jobs and generate more than $12.6 million in new revenue, with total projected economic contribution exceeding $15 million for the local economy.
The Territory Government provided a $668,072 co-investment through the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund, which is administered by AMGC. NGS matched the funding in cash and contributed an additional $4.1 million, bringing total project investment to $5.4 million.
Robyn Cahill said the project demonstrated how industry diversification could support regional economic development and workforce opportunities.
“Northern Glass Solutions’ project is a great example of how a business can diversify its services to not only fill a gap in the market but also build regionally important capabilities,” Cahill said.
“This project is driving real industry growth, which is in turn creating real opportunities for Territorians, now and into the future.”
Bill Yan said targeted investment through the ecosystem fund was supporting local industry and strengthening supply chains for major projects across northern Australia.
“Today’s opening shows what is possible when local industry backs the Northern Territory and the Territory Government backs industry,” Yan said.
“Through targeted investments via the AMEF, we are growing the local economy, creating skilled jobs, and strengthening supply chain resilience.”
The facility will also support research and development activities through collaborations with the Australian Glass & Window Association, James Cook University, and RMIT University to develop specialty glass products suited to cooling climate zones and cyclonic conditions.
Charmaine Phillips said the project highlighted the value of co-investment in strengthening advanced manufacturing ecosystems.
“The success of the AMEF program demonstrates how targeted co-investment can unlock private sector confidence, accelerate advanced manufacturing capability, and deliver long-term economic benefits for the Northern Territory,” Phillips said.
NGS is one of 16 projects supported through the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund. Since its launch in 2021, the program has contributed $32.1 million to manufacturing projects in the Northern Territory, supporting more than 310 jobs and generating over $163 million in revenue across five years, according to AMGC.
The company said the facility also holds export potential, with opportunities to supply markets in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia.
