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South Australian advanced electronics manufacturing firm REDARC has officially opened its expanded factory in Adelaide suburb Lonsdale.
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The companies new headquarters, complete with an additional 3,000 square metres of space, was opened by Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne and SA Premier Steven Marshall.
The company said the expansion will create over 100 specialist jobs in the next six years.
“We have been growing strongly in recent years by targeting the North American and European automotive aftermarket with our dual battery chargers and our award-winning Tow-Pro Elite brake controller,” REDARC managing director Anthony Kittel said.
“We are now actively diversifying into other markets, including defence and medical devices.”
The upgrade had been supported by a $2.5 million federal government Next Generation Manufacturing Investment Program grant received in 2016.
“In addition to expanding the facility, the grant has been used to purchase state-of-the-art machinery and testing and validation equipment to enable us to exceed international standards,” Kittel said.
“The new equipment will provide REDARC with the best available technology, enabling us to enhance export capabilities and assist with our diversification program.”
New equipment and capability included the purchase of a surface mount technology line for loading electronic components, an electromagnetic compatibility chamber and a vibration test lab that enables highly accelerated lifetime testing of products.
Three new Universal collaborative robots (Cobots) have also been purchased.
Other changes included in the new development include IT Infrastructure upgrades.
Minister for Defence Industry Steven Ciobo congratulated REDARC on the opening of its new facility.
“This is yet another vote of confidence in Australia’s defence industry,” Minister Ciobo said.
“A strong defence industry creates Australian jobs, with REDARC currently employing almost 200 South Australians and expecting this number to increase to over 300 by 2024.”
