The Morrison Government is supporting Australian manufacturers to innovate and grow, with $55 million in grants awarded to 86 businesses across the country, including two on the southern Gold Coast.
Under round two of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF) Currumbin Minerals and Delphi Measurement will launch new projects to upscale and upgrade their current capabilities.
Member for McPherson Karen Andrews MP said MMF grants help business to modernise their manufacturing processes, which improves productivity and stimulates job creation.
“The Gold Coast’s manufacturing sector employs around 14,000 local workers and contributes almost $7 billion to the city’s economy,” Mrs Andrews said.
“That’s why the Morrison Government is backing manufacturing businesses like Currumbin Minerals and Delphi Measurement with significant financial support to help them to modernise, innovate and grow,” she added.
Currumbin Minerals has been awarded $934,686, and Manager Brett Hoyle said the company would use the funding to establish a $3.8 million minerals sands processing facility.
“The new facility will use world leading electrostatic and magnetic heavy minerals separation processes to enable more efficient separation of heavy minerals and rare earths, which can be used in the construction of wind generation power turbines and electric cars,” Mr Hoyle explained.
“Because we’ll meet world-class standards in mineral sand separation, companies around Australia will be competitive on the world stage,” he added.
Over 90% of the equipment and structure will be manufactured in Australia – mostly in south east Queensland.
Karen Andrews MP with Currumbin Minerals Manager Brett Hoyle
Burleigh Heads-based Delphi Measurement has been awarded $208,225 to invest in automated equipment.
“We will modernise our manufacturing processes – reducing associated labour costs and enhance the quality of our output,” Sales Manager Mike Leonard said.
“This significant investment by us and together with the Federal Government serves to modernise our production facility, greatly enhance our teams’ skill sets and reduce OHS risk, whilst providing Delphi with the opportunity to grow and secure our future in manufacturing,” he added.
Delphi Measurement plans to employ more staff as they modernise their production capabilities.
MMF round two, which builds upon the success of the first round, was a competitive merit-based grants program, with applications assessed by a committee of independent industry experts.
Businesses are required to match government funding on a three-to-one basis, with government grants covering up to 25 per cent of eligible project expenditure.
The minimum grant amount is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount is $1,000,000. Projects must be completed within two years.
The grants are part of the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy and eligible companies need to demonstrate that their products align with one of the Government’s six National Manufacturing Priorities (NMPs). Those priorities are Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Food and Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence and Space.
