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Victoria’s Marand has grown its customer base, securing a partnership with Rolls-Royce for construction of the MT30 gas turbine for the SEA 5000 Future Frigate project.
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Under the agreement, Marand will work with Rolls Royce on design development, manufacture and integration of the specialised integrated gas turbine enclosure, should the BAE Systems Global Combat Ship – Australia (GCS-A) be selected as the preferred designer for the $35 billion Future Frigate project.
The specialised integrated gas turbine enclosure is a engineering solution that provides the mechanical support, noise suppression, controls, air intake, exhaust outlet, ventilation and auxiliary supplies necessary to ensure optimal performance for the world's most modern and power-dense marine gas turbine.
Rohan Stocker, CEO of Marand, said the agreement is a vote of confidence in the local company's staff and skills.
"We are thrilled to be chosen by Rolls-Royce as their partner for the MT30 enclosure design development, manufacture and integration. The significant evaluation process and ultimate selection is a reflection of our world-class team, engineering and manufacturing capabilities that have proven performance working in global supply chains," Stocker said.
"Completing the design development and manufacture here locally in Australia helps build the skills and future sovereign industrial capability required to support these critical propulsion system elements. We look forward to working with Rolls-Royce should the Global Combat Ship – Australia be selected for the SEA 5000 Future Frigate program."
BAE Systems is one of the contenders for the SEA 5000 program, offering the GCS-A, a local variant of its Type 26 Global Combat Ship design, being built at BAE Systems in Glasgow for the UK Royal Navy. Rolls-Royce is providing a wide range of mission critical products to the Type 26, including the MT30 gas turbine, MTU diesel generators, Mission Bay Handling System, propellers, steering gear and stabilisers, and refuelling at sea equipment.
Rob Madders, general manager of Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Australia and New Zealand, said the selection of Marand, which already designs and manufactures complex and innovative equipment and products for Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, will bring the Victorian company into Rolls-Royce's extensive global supply chain.
"We’re delighted to announce that Marand is our preferred industry partner for the manufacture of the integrated MT30 gas turbine enclosure. It fulfils an important milestone in our ambitious Australian industry capability strategy by securing a local supply chain for both the manufacture and sustainment of the enclosure, including the transfer of highly specialised engineering skills and knowledge," said Madders.
"As the latest member of our global supply chain, Marand becomes an integral part of our rapidly growing MT30 market providing future export opportunities on worldwide naval programs. The MT30's clear advantages have made it the turbine of choice for the latest allied warships, including the US Navy’s Zumwalt class and Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship, Italy's Landing Helicopter Dock and South Korea's Daegu Class frigates, as well as the UK's Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigate. The MT30 will continue to replace aging turbine designs and we fully expect to add to the MT30's family of warships in the very near future.
"For Type 26 the MT30 is rated to 36MW at 38 degrees ambient, this power, unrestricted by global climate conditions and combined with minimal maintenance makes it the perfect choice for GCS-A.
"The combination of Marand’s impressive engineering pedigree and the capabilities of the MT30, will give BAE Systems GCS-A world-leading capability now and into the future and we look forward to working with them on this exciting opportunity."
Rolls-Royce is expecting to announce more Australian industry partners as part of its supply chain for its SEA 5000 offering, with various companies selected for the manufacture and delivery of its products including propellers, the ship-to-ship refuelling at sea equipment, the Mission Bay Handling System, steering gear and stabilisation systems.
"Now we have Marand on board, we’re expecting to confirm other Australian industry partners to join our global supply chain," said Madders. "If the BAE Systems GCS-A is selected, every product we supply will incorporate optimal Australian manufacture and assembly, further developing Australia’s sovereign industrial capability priorities set out in their continuous shipbuilding and Defence strategies."
BAE Systems welcomed the announcement by Rolls-Royce that it has selected Australian engineering company Marand as its local partner.
"Our approach is to create an economic powerhouse of advanced manufacturing in Australia," said BAE Systems Australia SEA 5000 managing director Nigel Stewart.
"Together with our major suppliers and partners, we are committed to creating and sustaining advanced manufacturing jobs and to help develop skills that will create a sovereign shipbuilding industry in Australia.
"Today’s announcement is a significant commitment by our combined team to develop and grow Australian capability for the SEA 5000 program, and prepare Australian industry for future export opportunities."
BAE Systems has proposed an Australian version of the Global Combat Ship to replace the ageing Anzac Class frigates for SEA 5000. It is up against Fincantieri, which has offered the FREMM, and Navantia, which has proposed the F-5000.
