A range of Queensland manufacturers have benefited from the government’s Made in Queensland (MiQ) program.
The matched grant program has been utilised in 75 projects since 2017.
Projects in the latest round of funding have utilised the grants to purchase advanced manufacturing equipment, increasingly employment and upskilling current workers.
Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, highlighted how manufacturers in her electorate, in south-west Brisbane, were utilising the funding.
“Laser Central in Richlands will install two automated laser-cutting machines after securing $1.58 million through MiQ, while Wacol transport manufacturers XL Service Bodies and Drake Trailers will share more than $1 million to purchase new equipment and advance their production capabilities,” she said.
In Townsville, Australian Professional Galvanizing will use $344,308 in funding to purchase Australia’s first ThermX kettle, furnace, and fume extraction system. CEO Steve Pollard highlighted how this would set the company apart.
“Australian Professional Galvanizing would be the first Australian galvanising plant to adopt this latest technology after galvanizing North Queensland’s steel assets for more than 50 years.”
In the Wide Bay-Burnett region, specialty timber manufacturer Baywood installed a sawmill which grows their offer to market.
“We have been able to expand our product range and improve production efficiency with the introduction of a new small-scale sawmill that utilises advanced manufacturing technology,” said Baywood director, Jonathan Pedersen.
Across the entire grants program, successful applicants have been able to demonstrate that the funding would enable local manufacturers to adopt Industry 4.0 methods and techniques, as demonstrated by businesses in the Darling Downs region.
“Orica Australia’s Helidon operations, meanwhile, secured $1,007,243 for robotics and automated soldering technology, while Millmerran ag business DA Hall & Co will use their $184,304 grant to purchase automated cleaning equipment that will slash collection time across their multiple farms,” said Queensland Minister for Manufacturing, Cameron Dick.