REGIONAL PROFILE
29
based in Victoria. highly skilled workforce. This, combined with excellent
From design through to manufacture of passenger cars, trucks automotive R&D facilities, provides a strong incentive to locate
and buses, Victoria’s extensive automotive industry is richly operations in the State. And it’s not all hard work; for the
supported, with expertise in automotive tooling and component automotive sector’s expertise is showcased and celebrated
manufacture. A fully equipped vehicle proving ground and annually in Melbourne during March, when the Australian
production size wind tunnel also ensure that manufacturers have Formula One Grand Prix comes to town and the Melbourne
access to the latest in vehicle testing facilities. International Motor Show is held.
Some of the highest quality vehicles in the world are now
produced in Victoria, including Australia’s best ever selling car, The Aerospace Sector
the Holden Commodore. Holden Australia has manufactured Victoria’s world class advanced manufacturing capabilities,
engines for export at its plant in Port Melbourne since 1981. excellent infrastructure and highly skilled workforce have made
The firm also builds engines for the Holden Commodore and its the State one of the most important locations for aerospace and
many export variants at the Port Melbourne facility. The GM V6 aviation activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
engine, manufactured in Victoria by Holden, is used by Alfa Victoria has a 90 year tradition as Australia’s aerospace and
Romero and Saab for high performance sports vehicles. defence capital, as evidenced by the world’s largest aerospace
Other global automotive companies based in the region company, Boeing, headquartering its Australian manufacturing
include Ford (whose regional design headquarters in operations in Melbourne.
Melbourne plays a lead role in the design and Many other global aerospace companies have also
engineering of Ford’s new global range of light established facilities in Victoria to take advantage of the
commercial vehicles) and Toyota (whose region’s innovative technologies, specialist personnel and
Technical Centre in Melbourne forms part of a time zone, which offers the chance to complete a 24 hour
global network of five integrated design centres). engineering cycle.
When expanding overseas, a key concern for In total, Victoria’s aviation sector employs more than
such companies is finding trustworthy and talented 12,000 people at 270 firms, servicing local and
staff. However, this isn’t a concern for automotive international aviation organisations. These companies
companies in Victoria as the state is home to a regularly win contracts in the most advanced aerospace
programmes in the world for the world’s major aircraft
companies, including: Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and
GKN Aerospace BAE Systems.
Victoria is a hub for both civil and defence aircraft repair and
GKN Aerospace is also the location of a significant number of airport
Engineering Services is construction and management groups. It also is a major
a UK-based supplier of exporter of air traffic management systems and provides the
design and manufacturing services to aerospace largest concentration of aviation/aerospace education and
manufacturers with sites in over 30 countries. The company training organisations in Australia.
turned to Melbourne in its search for aerospace engineers, The Australian International Airshow is also held in Victoria
drawn in part by the ready supply of qualified professionals. at Avalon Airport biennially (next event: March 2009).
Tony Quick, Director & General Manager, GKN Aerospace
Engineering Services in Australia, rates Victoria’s Victorian Government Support
engineering graduates as among the best in the world. Not complacent about its success, the government strives to
make it easy for foreign companies to thrive and there is
GKN was the first Australian-based firm to win a contract on plenty of support for advanced manufacturing companies
the world’s largest defence program, the F-35 Joint Strike seeking to establish operations in Victoria. Invest Victoria
Fighter. “When Lockheed Martin powered on the first JSF in is the State Government’s inward investment agency which
September 2005, more than 1,000 parts – 10% of the total – helps international companies build their business in Victoria
were designed by GKN Aerospace in Australia,” says Quick. and offers investors a free, comprehensive and confidential
service.
Notes:
1. The Victorian Nanotechnology Statement provides a framework for a new strategic partnership between governments, industry
and the research sector, focused around five priorities: responsible development (through regulatory frameworks and industry
designed and led protocols); boosting industry uptake, forging global connections (through strategic alliances); skills and education
(with a strong focus on developing vocational education and practical skills) and building platforms for the future – through
protecting Victoria’s ability to conduct basic research and the utilisation of its research infrastructure by industry.
2. Yearbook Australia, 2008. p.194 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
3. Australian Demographic Statistics, June 2007 (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
4. Jamie Walker and Natasha Robinson, Population pushing Melbourne to top. The Australian. 12 November 2007.
5. Australian Industry Group Competitive Industry – A Decade of Manufacturing Growth
6. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2004-5. ElaboratelyTransformed Manufactures (ETMs).
7. Questacon: 100 Years of Australian Innovations
August 2008
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com
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