Page 38 - Defence Directory #52

DEFENCE TASMANIA RECOGNISED AND TRUSTED
LEADING edge research, education and innovation is making Tasmania a sought after partner for major primes and defence forces around the globe.
Tasmania’s defence industry is going from strength to strength, with its innovative product design, advanced manufacturing and research capabilities continuing
to be recognised by military forces in Australia and internationally.
In early October, the island state’s biggest ever con- tingent of defence services, manufacturing and research personnel participated in Pacific 2019, one of the biggest maritime trade shows in the world.
At Pacific 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Tasmania’s Australian Maritime College (AMC) and Thales Australia was signed.
Thales is now set to establish a presence at the new Maritime Defence Innovation and Design Precinct in the state’s north, which will connect academia with industry to enhance Australia’s sovereign defence capability.
The AMC, which recently opened its cutting-edge new Underwater Collision Research Facility in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), is also a significant training, research and development partner of Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding College.
These strategic partnerships, and the Tasmanian defence sector’s close alignment with the University of Tasmania, demonstrate the value of what the state has to offer. Further, these connections open the door to even more opportunities for Tasmanian defence suppliers to provide their expertise and quality products to the world.
The university’s Tasmanian Cognition Laboratory is leading the experimental investigation and modelling
of cognitive processes, and as the only university in the world that operates a continent-wide collection of radio telescopes, its work is critical to the global space industry.
A team from the University recently won a Eureka Prize for the development of the world’s first trace detec- tion device, which can identify inorganic explosives in under a minute.
The university’s Centre for Food Innovation works closely with DSTG at its Scottsdale facility to develop best nutrition and human factors outcomes, including developing the advanced Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilisation (‘MATS’) capability, to extend the nutritional life of fresh foods.
The specialist expertise of our companies is clear, with Tasmanian firm PFG Group recently unveiling their new advanced patrol vessel, which is manufactured from high- density polyethylene (HDPE) and attracted considerable interest from leading authorities at Pacific 2019.
Tasmania is also at the forefront of keeping defence force personnel and assets safe, with Fortifyedge, a local Tasmanian ICT firm, leading the world in developing cybersecurity and smart software.
Another Tasmanian success story, CBG Systems, has a longstanding partnership with the CSIRO and is renowned for commercialising new science and technology products, with its systems used in navies and shipyards in Australia and internationally.
On the ‘land’ front, the ADF’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle project will see Tasmanian com- pany Direct Edge supply products to Rheinmetall, which is manufacturing 211 Boxer vehicles for the Australian Army.
With all of this taking place now and in the near future, it is clear that Tasmania’s defence industry is continuing
to be recognised as a supplier of choice, with our leading expertise and innovation in global demand.
To see how we can help you, contact a Tasmanian defence supplier or the Tasmanian Defence Advocate at ask@business.tas.gov.au. ■
LEFT: PFG Group’s new patrol vessel.
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ADM’s Directory of Defence Suppliers 2020 | Edition 52 | www.defencesuppliers.com.au
PFG/TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT
TASMANIA