Australian company Haulmark Trailer has opened a manufacturing facility in Adelaide, which represents a significant growth in the country’s defence industry.
The opening of the $15m facility was welcomed by Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo.
The trailer manufacturing facility has been designed by architects Bennett Designs and built by Sitzler, making use of 100% Australian steel.
Pyne said: “The facility will have an initial workforce of 20, which is expected to ramp up to more than 30 by year’s end.
“The new building will support both defence and commercial customers with new trailers being manufactured from scratch while a whole of life repair and maintenance service is also available.”
Last year, the Australian Defence Department announced that Haulmark Trailer will manufacture and sustain trailers being procured under the country’s Land 121 5B programme.
The department is procuring new-generation medium and heavy trucks, 872 modules and 812 trailers to enhance the land capabilities of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The Land 121 programme is designed to replace the ADF’s legacy fleet of ageing vehicles and trailers.
The contract was awarded to Rheinmetall Group. The Land 121 5B programme will sustain more than 100 jobs with Haulmark in Brisbane.
Steven Ciobo said: “It’s a source of great pride to me to see a state of the art development such as this supporting our troops.”
