Adelaide-based manufacturer Sage Automation has signed a $2.8 million contract to supply the control systems for two Royal Australian Navy Auxiliary Oil Replenishment ships.
In a deal with Canberra-based engineering firm Navantia Australia, Sage Automation will supply the enclosures and consoles for the next generation Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), a statement on the company’s website read.
The system provides ship-wide control and monitoring of all electrically powered on-board units. The vessels are currently being built in Spain.
This is the third project of its kind delivered by the Navantia Sage Automation Group (NSAG), bringing the number of Royal Australian Navy ships with IPMS to seven.
“Contracts such as this with Navantia further strengthen our local capability in naval automation and monitoring and create a footprint for future Royal Australian Navy platforms,” said South Australia’s defence minister Martin Hamilton-Smith.
“With $89 billion in naval shipbuilding work for South Australia, it is vitally important that our local defence industry provides a stable supply chain and has a flow of work to maintain capabilities, ready for when the Offshore Patrol Vessel program commences in 2018.”
SAGE Automation will manufacture the enclosures and consoles for IPMS at their Adelaide manufacturing facility before they are exported to Spain for installation on board the ships.
When the ships return to Australia, NSAG will provide local support for the IPMS.
“NSAG is built on a depth of experience and technical knowledge which will be vital to the success of shipbuilding in Australia,” said SAGE Automation CEO Adrian Fahey.
“We have proven our capability on the Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships and the Hobart Class Destroyers.
“Through the award of this contract NSAG is able to make a significant contribution to Australian shipbuilding industry and plan for future growth.”