FUTURE GEELONG: Defence marks the return of vehicle manufacturing to the region

Nearly nine years after Ford’s closure, vehicle manufacturing returns to Geelong, but these are a bit bigger than cars.

Richard Marles at an event at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Avalon. Picture: Supplied

Vehicle manufacturing has made its return to Geelong nearly nine years after the closure of the Ford factory, and it could be here to stay.

The future of manufacturing is not cars, however, but instead advanced armoured vehicles from Hanwha Defence Australia.

The company will deliver 30 Huntsman Self-Propelled Howitzers and 15 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Systems from their Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Avalon.

The 52-tonne ground shaking vehicles, designed in South Korea, are designed for a tactic dubbed “shoot-and-scoot”, which sees rapid firing at a target then quickly moving away.

Hanwha Defence Australia managing director Dean Michie said Geelong was the logical choice for Hanwha in Australia given the area’s long history of vehicle manufacturing and the skilled workforce.

“By supporting the defence industry, Geelong is positioning itself as a key player in Australia’s defence sector, while also diversifying and strengthening its economy in the long term,” Mr Michie said.

In its next stage the H-ACE facility will be expanded to build 129 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles for the Australian Army.

Hanwha Defence Australia is producing advanced armoured vehicles at their Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility in Avalon. Picture: Supplied

The first of the Huntsman vehicles arrived from Korea in February in an event attended by Richard Marles. Production has now started on the first Australian-made Huntsmans at the H-ACE.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the “difficult moment” that was the closure of Ford’s factory 2016 made the establishment of Hanwha’s facility “so exciting” for many in the region.

“We’re making vehicles again, it’s a different sort of vehicle, it’s a much higher-tech vehicle, I think it’s a much more spectacular vehicle.

“But to have high tech manufacturing – which is what making cars was and what making military vehicles is – is exactly the kind of manufacturing that we need in this country.

“It’s exactly the kind of manufacturing that we need in Geelong,” Mr Marles said.

He said that Geelong’s manufacturing base, expertise, skilled workforce and Deakin University all made the region “really attractive” for high tech manufacturing.

Mr Michie said that Hanwha could maintain a long term presence in the region given they get a “steady stream” of work through the facility.

“Given the significant investment Hanwha has made in the H-ACE, we envision that we will be part of the Geelong community for the long term,” he said.

The company currently has two significant contracts with the Commonwealth, and while “sustainment” of their current platforms is “on the cards” they are also looking at other defence programs, space, munitions, and exports for the site.

Mr Marles said “there’s real hopes” that Hanwha will be able to do more work at the site.

“I’m really excited about the future prospects for this becoming a bigger defence precinct.”

Originally published as FUTURE GEELONG: Defence marks the return of vehicle manufacturing to the region