$1m grant for New Age robotics centre
Government funding encourages Melbourne caravan manufacturer to hire ex-auto workersFast growing Melbourne manufacturer New Age Caravans has received a $1 million government grant to help fund a new automated production facility at its new factory.
The grant is the first under a new investment and innovation program in Melbourne’s north designed to assist workers find jobs after Ford Australia announced it would cease car manufacturing in 2016.
The co-investment will help New Age establish a new $3.7 million advanced robotic manufacturing centre at the company’s 7000sq.m factory in Epping, Victoria which opened in mid-2013.
The new facilities are expected to create up to 65 new jobs on top of the 100-plus employees already working at the factory.
With $24.5 million allocated, the fund is a tripartite federal, Victorian and Ford Australia program, with the grant to New Age “the first of many projects” to receive funding under it.
“This project is a great example of an innovative company in a growing market that is driving real improvements in productivity for the business,” Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said.
“Furthermore, the jobs that will be created by this project are suitable for ex-Ford and automotive supply chain workers, with only minimal retraining required.”
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