Gold Coast startup BenchOn creates ‘world first’ portal for companies to tap into $17B worth of defence force work

A Gold Coast startup has created a ‘world first’ platform for companies to take part in the defence force’s $15 billion infantry fighting vehicle program.

GOLD Coast start-up BenchOn has created a “world first” platform for companies to take part in the defence force’s $15 billion infantry fighting vehicle program.

The company, led by ex-Australian Army major Tim Walmsley, has collaborated with $76 billion Korean conglomerate Hanwha on an industry portal where businesses can offer their talent, products and services to Hanwha for the Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program.

Hanwha, along with Rheinmetall, have been chosen to tender for the replacement of the Australian Army’s ageing M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers.

Hanwha has put forward its Redback IFV, a variant of the South Korean Army’s K21 vehicle, as the replacement model. A decision on which company will proceed to the acquisition phase is due in 2022.

Tim Walmsley runs BenchOn with wife Katie Walmsley. Photo by Richard Gosling

Mr Walmsley said hundreds of companies have signed up so far for the Hanwha portal, from steel and armament manufacturers through to professional services firms.

“It is an open portal at the moment which means any company can sign up,” he said.

“Hanwha are doing that to collect up as much Australian company interest as possible and when the work packages come out they will make it invite-only to make sure the companies in there are the right ones.”

Mr Walmsley said Hanwha was looking to work with as many Australian companies as possible. He said Land 400 was just one of the programs it is tendering for and the company was also a strong contender for Land 8116 Protected Mobile Fires, offering an Australian-made variant of the world leading K9 and K10 vehicles known as Huntsman. All up the projects are expected to create $17 billion worth of work if won by Hanwha.

Launch of the new Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles Boxer Vehicle Land 400, Phase 2 for the Australian Defence Force at Gallipoli Barracks.

A roadshow where businesses could pitch to Hanwha and Rheinmetall has been put on hold, however Mr Walmsley expects those to go ahead again “soon”.

BenchOn was founded in 2016 and revolves around a technology platform that matches idle or “benched” staff to short-term contracts with other reputable companies.

In simple terms staff that are being under-utilised at one company can be loaned to a similar one that needs workers, with the employee retaining their job.

Mr Walmsley is proposing to the Federal Government a similar portal to the Hanwha platform for all industry Australia-wide.