- Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher has visited Townsville business Engineering Industries Australia, to announce that Round 3 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) is open.
- Engineering Industries Australia won $347,475 under round 1 of the MHGP, which funded a computer-controlled metal press, cutter and folder (Bystronic Expert Pro 250T Press Brake and Artec Leo Scanner).
- $10 million in funds for the next two years is now available to help even more regional Queensland manufacturers take the next step in transforming their business.
Townsville manufacturers have access to $10 million in total funding, under Round 3 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher officially announced the next round of the MHGP when he visited a former grant recipient, Engineering Industries Australia (EIA) in Bohle.
The MHGP gives local manufacturers a new opportunity to get financial help for business-expanding initiatives, which will create more good jobs and better services in the region.
The funding boost, which was secured in the 2022/23 Queensland Budget, meant even more manufacturers would have financial support as they modernised and transitioned to manufacturing 4.0 processes.
Townsville's Engineering Industries Australia has been able to expand their market opportunities and secure market share of specialty fabrication works previously dominated by southern competitors, since securing more than $345,000 in funding from the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) in Round 1 in 2021.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butcher:
"Manufacturers in Townsville are looking to grow their business and modernise. Our funding helps them do that faster and more efficiently," Mr Butcher said.
"I'm thrilled to announce another $10 million in funds for the next two years to help even more regional Queensland manufacturers take the next step in transitioning their business to 4.0 technology.
"This program is also more evidence that our Manufacturing Hubs, which the Palaszczuk Government has permanently funded, are absolutely critical to the prosperity of local businesses."
Quotes attributable to Resources Minister and Townsville MP Scott Stewart:
"Engineering Industries Australia was already a market-leader and this funding has allowed them to grow significantly grow that customer base.
"We know this new machinery - which the Palaszczuk Government grant helped pay for - has been hard at work, making high-spec equipment including pressure piping of the diameter used in the Haughton Pipeline."
Quotes attributable to Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper:
"Manufacturing contributes $20 billion a year to the state's economy and, to date, 15 North Queensland businesses have benefitted from nearly $4.8 million in funding thanks to manufacturing grants programs funded by the Palaszczuk Government.
"That's helped to create or support more than 285 good jobs – four here at Engineering Industries Australia - and significantly boost services."
Quotes attributable to Mundingburra MP Les Walker:
"Engineering Industries Australia has made the most of the funding opportunity, identifying new customers and new markets to target with the new products created by the purchased equipment.
"This is just one of many example of proof that the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program is an outstanding success."
Quotes attributable to Engineering Industries Australia Director Jason Rowe
"We are now more competitive and have a broader product offering thanks to the funding helping us to buy important equipment for our factory. The Grant has helped us purchase our Bystronic Expert Pro 250T Press Brake and Artec Leo Scanner," Mr Rowe said.
"This funding has been an important part of our growth trajectory. It provided stability and certainty and given us the confidence to aim at bringing greater technical capacity to the North. It means we now have greater control over our supply chain and the associated quality," he said.
"Since the funding announcement, we've added another four positions to our business with an estimated $800,000 increase in revenue generated. There are more jobs on offer with our new machinery recently purchased to complement the equipment acquired in the grant process. This is due to the demands placed on our business by new customers seeking our specialty services as well as existing customers who wish to take advantage use our services to provide product that wasn't readily available at a competitive price in the north.
