‘Bring back Aussie manufacturing’: Ute ‘bling’ maker plans Vic mega-factory

A Victorian car parts maker is cashing in on tradies adding “bling” to their utes and moving ahead with big plans to expand.

EXCLUSIVE

An Australian car parts maker is moving ahead with its ambitious plan to create a massive manufacturing hub, starting with a huge new factory in regional Victoria.

HSP 4x4 Accessories employs 40 people at its factories in Melbourne and Alexandria but seeks to double or even triple staff numbers with a mega-plant dubbed “Manutropolis” at the tiny town of Yarck, in the upper Goulburn Valley region, which has a population of around 150 people.

Co-founder Massih Aimaq says negotiations are under way for a 200,000 square metre parcel of land that will start with one factory but has capacity for 10.

As the company name suggests, HSP is focused on products such as hard covers, rolltops and canopies and has been making them from Australia-sourced materials since 2007.

HSP recently patented its world-first product that allows ute drivers to operate their tray cover using an app.

The products are a hit with cashed-up tradies, who are busy everywhere thanks to home renovation projects soaring and want cutting-edge accessories.

Massih Aimaq (right), his brother Masood Aimaq (centre) and lifelong friend Omer Dost (left) are the founders and directors of ute 'bling' makers HSP 4x4 Accessories. Picture: Supplied

Mr Aimaq says Yarck is surrounded by towns that should provide a ready workforce for its new facility, which would be a big boost to the local economies.

He said staff numbers could reach 120 in the next two to three years and the company had sufficient cash to get started, but the pace of development would depend in part on government support.

“If the Government was to help, step up and assist us, we can get this done a lot faster,” Mr Aimaq said.

“We’re all really pushing technology and innovation in our products.

“One of the reasons why is when you look at manufacturing in Australia, since the 1950s and 1960s, we’ve dropped from something like 30 per cent of our GDP being manufacturing and that dropped down to 5 or 6 per cent.

Massih and Masood Aimaq and Mr Dost plan to massively expand output from their ute 'bling' factories. Picture: Supplied image

“We’ve made polymer notes, Wi-Fi ...

“If we’re able to push Australian manufacturing back and push that out to the world, there might be more scenarios where other companies might be able to get assistance from the Government.

“We might be able to start bringing innovation into manufacturing, creating some products the world hasn’t seen and become a hub so we’re not just importing everything and copying what everyone else has got - we’re actually creating it and giving our country a more strategic advantage.”

Mr Aimaq said the quality, uniqueness and pricing of the company’s offerings enabled it to overcome the difficult task of competing with genuine products - made by the car manufacturer - at dealerships.

HSP is set to reach $20 million in turnover this financial year and sells its products in Australia, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and South America and is in talks to expand into countries in Africa and the Middle East.