defence

Seven Boeing contracts, including agreements with three new steel fabrication suppliers, have been awarded to small and medium-sized Australian businesses which have just graduated from Boeing Australia’s first Capability Up-Lift Program. The year-long program supported companies which might not have received prior exposure and experience in a defence environment. Scott Carpendale, Vice President and Managing Director, Boeing Defence Australia (BDA), said the program’s participants graduated with tools needed to increase business maturity and improve overall performance, and BDA looks forward to growing capability for the defence industry with contributions from diverse suppliers such as these.

“SMEs bring significant value to the defence industry including agility and innovative technologies in key areas such as manufacturing, cyber security and extended reality products,” Carpendale said. Queensland companies featured strongly in the program which was delivered in collaboration with Defence Jobs Queensland, and AusIndustry, and the Office of Defence Industry Support from the Department of Defence.  Participants received the following grants and awards upon graduation:

• Two Brisbane-based businesses – HINDSITE Industries and Raytracer – received AUD $2.8 million in grants and funding to commercialize their technologies for aerospace, in areas such as augmented reality technology and on-orbit vehicle servicing, assembly and manufacture as part of Australia’s Moon to Mars Initiative.
• Three Queensland businesses – HINDSITE Industries, Brisbane-based LOGiT and Toowoomba-based JRS Group received their first Boeing contracts.
• Seven SMEs received ten industry awards at both state and national levels.

“The Boeing Capability Up-Lift program has exposed us to the defence and aerospace fabrication industries and provided greater understanding of how we can ensure our business is best placed to compete and win on contracts,” said Liam Scanlan, HINDSITE Industries managing director. “Our participation broke down barriers to entry, and we were delighted to secure multiple contracts, including with Boeing, and federal grants – all made possible through access to key training and events where we could build and foster relationships with other participants and industry experts.” The collaborators delivering the program shared resources and access to industry experts to provide SME participants with advisory services (such as heat induction bending services), mentoring and access to major events to enhance business readiness and defence maturity.

“The program builds on Boeing’s commitment to fostering a diverse, resilient and sustainable sovereign supply chain, and has resulted in Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) awarding contracts to both new and established SMEs including veteran, women and Indigenous-owned businesses,” said Carpendale. Boeing Australia represents the broadest portfolio of products and services in the Australian aerospace industry and one of the company’s largest operational footprints outside the US. Based on its 96-years’ experience, Boeing plays an integral role in aerospace and defence industry as a leader in advanced manufacturing for commercial airplane components, defence systems and sustainment, training and services, research and development, and uncrewed systems.