Marand starts business in Geelong
The Victorian Coalition Government has welcomed the announcement that Australia's key defence and aerospace manufacturer will co-locate a new facility to manufacture equipment for the United States Joint Strike Fighter program (JSF) at Ford Motor Company's Geelong plant generating 60 jobs.
Minister for Manufacturing Exports and Trade Richard Dalla-Riva said Marand's decision to locate its new manufacturing facility at the Ford Geelong precinct highlights Victoria's world-class advanced manufacturing capabilities.
"This will form the foundation of Marand's $800 million export opportunity to manufacture special tools and engine maintenance trailers for the JSF program in the USA," Mr Dalla-Riva said.
"The initiative becomes effective today and will immediately generate 20 new jobs in Geelong, with a further 40 new jobs when full operations come on-line. This is good news for the Geelong region.
"This was the biggest JSF manufacturing contract won by Australia and was a critical step for Marand to proceed with establishment of its new aero
-structures facility in the Geelong region," Mr Dalla-Riva said.Moorabbin-based, Marand is a major supplier to the automotive, defence, aerospace, energy and rail sectors. It employs about 250 people and has annual sales of up to $50 million.
The co-located facility allows Ford to draw upon Marand's world class machine tool expertise to support its local business.
"Marand has grown its defence and aerospace business by participating in the $300 billion JSF program. The company has won global contracts for JSF engine trailers for Lockheed Martin (US) and for JSF tooling for BAE Systems (UK)," Mr Dalla-Riva said.
Marand and BAE Systems also announced, at the 2011 Australian International Airshow, a long term agreement for Marand to supply BAE with 722 sets of Vertical Tail assemblies for the JSF program.
