A Bunbury-based company is set to expand its workforce and explore new opportunities in wind energy manufacturing after receiving more than $2 million from the Cook Government under a co-investment program.
RCR Advanced Technologies, part of RCR Mining Technologies, has been awarded $2,047,900 through the $8 million Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, which is being delivered in partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), the government said in a news release.
The $5.3 million project will pilot the local production of transition flanges for wind turbines, a component currently made overseas. Transition flanges connect turbine towers to their foundations and are considered critical in ensuring reliable supply chains.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the initiative reflects the State’s commitment to advancing local capability in renewable energy.
“RCR Advanced Technologies is harnessing its strong track record in manufacturing by expanding its capabilities and creating new jobs to deliver critical components for the growing wind energy sector,” Sanderson said.
She added that the program is designed to help local companies scale up and position themselves in global clean energy markets.
“Through the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, we’re enabling local companies to scale up, invest in advanced equipment, and secure their place in global clean energy supply chains,” she said.
The project is expected to create up to 48 jobs and generate $36 million in new revenue over the next five years. RCR plans to modernise and expand its Bunbury workshop, purchase new machinery, and enhance quality control processes to meet international standards.
The company will also upskill its workforce to take on refurbishment of other wind turbine components such as gearboxes and drive shafts.
South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the program was also an investment in regional communities.
“By supporting local companies like RCR Advanced Technologies, through the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, we are not only investing in the business but also in the local community,” Punch said.
“The project will help RCR to modernise and expand its capabilities while also creating dozens of new jobs and generate more than $30 million in revenue.”
RCR Advanced Technologies Manager Neville Kelly said the funding would enable the company to transition its expertise from the mining sector to renewable energy.
“This will have a significant impact in the region we operate in and offers opportunities for us, our workforce, and the region to adapt,” Kelly said.
“RCR is in a prime position to upskill local workers and provide employment related to modern energy sources, while leveraging our mining sector heritage in engineering projects to meet burgeoning demand from the onshore wind energy supply chain in Western Australia.”
The AMGC said the project highlights how WA companies can leverage existing skills to diversify into clean energy. WA State Director Ellen McGarrity said: “Through this program, AMGC aims to highlight the real opportunities in growing manufacturing capability. RCR is leveraging its expertise in heavy, precision-engineered equipment to deliver a locally unmatched solution for a new customer base.”
McGarrity said the company’s expansion would also help reduce delivery times and provide supply chain certainty for renewable energy developers. “RCR is extending their heritage, reducing delivery times, and helping address demands from industry and the State for the clean energy this era will be powered by,” she said.
The Cook Government’s co-investment program is designed to support manufacturers entering or growing their role in wind energy supply chains. It covers up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, with industry partners required to match the funding.
RCR is the second recipient under the initiative, following Australian Winders, with more than $2.5 million already committed to projects aimed at supporting WA’s growing wind energy manufacturing sector.
