Dandenong manufacturer A.W. Bell is using a grant from the Australian Government's Commercialisation Australia program to open up export opportunities in the lucrative United States aerospace and defence sectors.
Dandenong manufacturer A.W. Bell is using a grant from the Australian Government's Commercialisation Australia program to open up export opportunities in the lucrative United States aerospace and defence sectors.
Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation and Member for Isaacs, Mark Dreyfus today visited the company, which received a $1.5 million Early Stage Commercialisation grant in 2011.
The grant will help A.W. Bell commercialise a new casting process that makes complex, lightweight, high-strength precision aluminium parts. The grant also supports local manufacturing jobs while Australia adjusts to the pressures of a high dollar and the challenge from imports.
"Manufacturing is an integral part of the Australian economy, employing nearly 1 million Australians in well-paid, high skilled jobs. That's why Labor believes in investing in the industry in hard times," Mr Dreyfus said.
"A.W. Bell is a prime example of an innovative Australian manufacturer right here in Dandenong, which is developing a new product and working hard to access new markets."
"Embracing innovation is good for individual businesses and good for the Australian economy. Innovation modernises production processes, leads to upskilling of workers, improves international competitiveness and is putting us on the path to an energy smart, low pollution economy.
"Furthermore, we are working hard to ensure that Australian manufacturers have access to major investment projects, global supply chains and opportunities, through generous programs and incentives to help innovative companies transform their operations and commercialise new products.
"Commercialisation Australia has announced support for 248 participants with grants totalling $97.1 million, since its launch in 2010."
"In addition the Federal Government's new R&D Tax Incentive is better targeted, more generous and more predictable than the tax concession it replaced."
"It is designed to enhance support for small and medium sized enterprises and better target activities which deliver broader benefits to the economy and society."
"I congratulate CEO Andrew Meek and the team at A.W. Bell on their achievements so far and look forward to following their progress."
