Tasmania's advanced manufacturers are turning global trade disruption into competitive advantage, securing new markets while retaining strategic international partnerships.
Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Guy Barnett, yesterday visited Ecka Granules at Bell Bay, where he met the team and toured the facility alongside the new General Manager Kevin Weber.
"Ecka Granules has demonstrated that premium quality and specialised expertise can open doors even where global policy shifts create challenges," Minister Barnett said.
"With around 70 per cent of its production exported, the company proves that advanced manufacturing with world-class capability can thrive right here in Tasmania."
Ecka Granules produces premium aluminium powders and granules used in defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors where certification, traceability and performance are critical, and long-term supply relationships matter.
The company sources high-quality aluminium from Bell Bay Aluminium, creating a fully localised supply chain that strengthens Tasmania's industrial ecosystem and export capability.
"It was great to visit the facility, inspect its advanced processing operations and discuss the company's export strategy and recent market diversification," Minister Barnett said.
"Ecka Granules is a key local employer, supporting around 30 skilled jobs across processing, logistics and advanced manufacturing.
"The global defence sector represents a trillion-dollar industry, and we see significant opportunity for Tasmanian manufacturers to secure a greater share of that market. As a Government, we are working closely with businesses like Ecka Granules to help grow its defence customer base and expand its presence in this high-value sector."
By continuing to innovate and expand into new markets, Ecka Granules is reinforcing Tasmania's reputation as a producer of world-class industrial materials and demonstrating how local industry can deliver high-value, sustainable products to customers around the world.
