Rheinmetall NIOA Munition factory releases first export

A $90m artillery shell plant in Maryborough has doubled its staff since 2022 and sent off its first international shipment in the face of a global supply shortage.

Maryborough’s $90m artillery shell plant has doubled its workforce in the past year as the factory sends off its first international shipment.

Maryborough’s $90m artillery shell plant has doubled its workforce in the past year as the factory sends off its first international shipment.

Defence Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions has taken another significant step towards full-rate production as it released a shipment to Germany for the first time.

Another 30 vacancies are expected to be filled by July and at full-rate production, the factory will have a workforce of up to 100 and produce up to 100,000 projectiles per year, a Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions press release stated.

Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions CEO and Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions chairman Roman Koehne visited the facility to congratulate the team.

A batch of 155mm shells produced in Maryborough were sent to Rheinmetall’s Unterluess Test Centre in Germany and successfully passed dynamic testing.

A 155mm projectile on the Maryborough production line.

The artillery projectiles and other munition parts, produced by “cutting edge technology,” are used by the Australian Defence Force and allied countries, the press release stated.

“The level of technology combined with highly-skilled people make this facility the most advanced of its kind in the world,” Mr Koehne said.

“The war in Ukraine has showed us that allied nations are increasingly looking for reliable sources that can manufacture the 155mm projectile.

“Rheinmetall has a great partnership with NIOA and together we believe that Maryborough has the potential to serve as a key link in the global munitions supply chain while building Australia’s defence manufacturing base.

“Germany, like Australia, requires certainty of supply for critical munitions to support our armed forces.”

RNM staff with the first consignment of test shells exported to Germany.

RNM project manager Jeff Crabtree said the demand for more workers would continue as the plant accelerated its capacity.

“This facility not only contributes to Australian and allied capability, but the benefits are clearly flowing through to the local economy,” he said.

“There are some great opportunities to be part of the team in a next-generation Australian defence manufacturer.”

These roles include operators, trades and apprentices, quality control, IT and security, supply chain and administration support.

The press release stated global artillery supplies, of the kind the Maryborough facility produces, are dwindling.

It said the war in Ukraine was draining US and NATO stockpiles faster than they were being replenished.

Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions CEO and Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions chairman Roman Koehne with RNM project manager Jeff Crabtree (right) and NIOA Group CEO and RNM deputy chairman Rob Nioa at the Maryborough factory.

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions deputy chairman and NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said the company was committed to growing the defence industrial base.

“Being able to produce our own ammunition in Australia is not only vital to our national resilience but it creates new jobs and new technologies as well as export potential,” he said.

The factory is backed by $28.5m injection from the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund and $7.5m from the Queensland Government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund alongside the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s support.