Stärke acquires Gadac Plastics following intern recruitment drive

Stärke Advanced Manufacturing has made a key acquisition following a recruitment drive aimed at developing a new generation of hi-tech engineers.

Stärke Advanced Manufacturing Group chief executive Al Jawhari with intern Michael Eason at the Precise Machining and Manufacturing facility in Edwardstown. Picture: Grant Law

Stärke Advanced Manufacturing Group (Stärke-AMG) is hoping to play a leading role in the revival of local manufacturing in South Australia following a key acquisition and the recruitment of a fresh cohort of young engineers.

The Gillman-based company has acquired specialist plastic injection moulding, design and assembly specialist Gadac Plastics, which has been providing “design to finished product” services since 1976.

Gadac’s facility in Camden Park houses 13 injection moulding machines, and the family-owned business also provides 3D plastic printing and ultrasonic welding services.

Stärke-AMG chief executive Al Jawhari said Gadac’s injection moulding expertise complemented the company’s mould design and manufacture capability.

“It means that whatever we can do in metal, we can now also deliver in plastic and this opens even more doors for us in the defence, aviation, space and many other sectors,” he said.

“Many of our existing clients also have plastic injection moulding needs.”

Stärke-AMG was established by German emigrant Manfred Tinney in 1971, initially making car components for the local automotive manufacturing industry before switching its focus to the mining, medical and defence sectors.

There are now seven individual advanced manufacturing businesses within the group - including QPE Advanced Machining, Precise Machining and Manufacturing and McMahon Metal Fabrication - delivering services ranging from high-end fabrication and engineering to precision machining, component manufacturing and product design and development.

Most of the group’s 130 employees operate from manufacturing sites across Adelaide and there is also a small team in Michigan, where tooling products are manufactured for the US market.

Stärke-AMG is aiming to grow its local workforce to about 400 to 500 people over the next three to five years.

As part of its recruitment push, the group recently brought on eight graduate interns in a variety of mechanical and aerospace engineering roles across its businesses.

Mr Jawhari said the company was committed to helping SA re-establish itself as a centre for high value advanced manufacturing, but it would take a significant industry-wide effort to reverse the trend of local talent leaving the state for opportunities interstate or abroad.

“Advancements in our defence, aerospace and related industries don’t necessarily guarantee opportunities will become available to local graduates,” he said.

“It is up to industry to ensure we build a strong South Australian talent pool and create a new generation of innovators.

“South Australia is well positioned to become a centre for high value advanced manufacturing once more and the first step is to invest in local skills.”

Michael Eason, who joined Stärke-AMG as an intern last November after completing a mechanical engineering degree, said the opportunity to join the company out of university had enabled him to remain in his home city.

“I wasn’t expecting to find a job in Adelaide and had resigned myself to looking interstate or abroad,” he said.

“In fact, the university supplied me with a list of potential employers I could approach and the vast majority of which were interstate or international companies.

“Thankfully, my supervisor was familiar with Stärke-AMG and recommended me to them and I haven’t looked back.”