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The Adelaide-based advanced engineering and construction company Novafast confirmed that the newly opened facility will be used to help service their contract with BAE Systems Australia, including the Hunter Class Frigate program.
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Novafast opened the company’s new $4 million facility on Tuesday (28 June), enhancing their composite production capabilities.
To achieve this, the company confirmed that they have developed a cutting-edge robotic technique that manufactures advanced and automated composite piping and fittings, which are then used for defence materiel.
The facility opening was attended by South Australian Defence Minister Susan Close and is expected to enable the company to meet their contract with BAE Systems Australia for the Hunter Class Frigate program.
“We are pleased to partner with BAE Systems Australia to deliver world-class defence manufacturing capabilities in South Australia,” David Figallo, business manager at Novafast, said.
“Novafast is utilising its composite pipe technology, developed internally by our research and development team, to support the representative ship blocks that are being constructed as part of the Hunter program’s prototyping phase.
“As the only Australian-based manufacturer of GRE composite pipes, Novafast aims to be the global leader in composite technologies and production processes using our advanced and automated production processes.
“At a time when Australia is facing increasing uncertainty in the region, it positions us as a key sovereign capability industry partner, and we’re delighted to have the partnership of BAE Systems to undertake this work in Australia.”
Craig Lockhart, managing director of BAE Systems Australia, explained that the company was committed to supporting Australian industry capability.
“We have awarded more than 40 separate contracts to Australian businesses to support the Hunter program’s early design and productionisation phase, and that number will grow as we progress towards construction of the first three Hunter Class frigates,” Lockhart said.
“The Hunter Class Frigate Program will deliver critical capability to the Royal Australian Navy but will also provide much of the nation’s independent sovereign capability, and our supply chain is key to that success.
“By engaging local businesses, we are supporting and creating Australian jobs, and building an enduring sovereign capability that will support our country’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy for future generations.”
Novafast was a 2021 recipient of a $2 million Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) federal government grant, for the growth of robot technology.
“This technology is a significant boost for the defence industry both locally and nationally,” Figallo continued.
“The facility has already created 15 highly skilled roles and is projected to have created more than 25 roles by late 2023 as the first batch of ships go into production.
“This investment is helping to create jobs for South Australian’s now and into the future.”
[Related: BAE Systems Australia, Lumination build Australia’s STEM future]
