Australian owned defence satellite communications specialist Blacktree Technology unveiled its new electronics workshop in Belmont, Western Australia, marking a major expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. The official opening was attended by Matt Keogh, minister for Veterans’ Affairs and minister for Defence Personnel, and M. Zaneta Mascarenhas, federal member for Swan, alongside local dignitaries and industry partners.
Keogh emphasised, “The strategic challenges our nation faces demand innovative capabilities and a robust industrial base. Blacktree Technology exemplifies how integrating veteran expertise with cutting-edge technology addresses these needs.”
Located within Blacktree’s existing Belmont business and manufacturing facilities, the new Electronics Workshop will enhance Blacktree’s production resilience by consolidating electronics assembly and advanced manufacturing in-house. It will also bolster Blacktree’s innovative capabilities by providing an onsite R&D testing capacity, and contribute to the ongoing upskilling of Blacktree’s workforce, 40% of the Blacktree team are veterans, and 25% of those veterans are active reservists.
“Building our future in Australia is all about tapping into local talent and making sure everyone gains from it,” Mascarenhas explained. “Since 90% of Blacktree’s supply chain is right here in WA, local small and medium-sized businesses get a chance to benefit from the export opportunities created by Blacktree.”
Blacktree’s cutting-edge ultra-high-frequency (UHF) SATCOM products play a vital role for the Australian Defence Force and international allies, including in Europe. Joel Nevin, Chief Financial Officer and Director at Blacktree Technology, highlights, “The opening of our new Electronics Workshop is a major milestone in our innovation journey. It significantly boosts our capabilities and allows us to better meet the rising demand for our advanced solutions both within Australia and globally.”
In the 2022/23 financial year, Blacktree achieved nearly 400% growth in export sales, serving commercial and defence facilities across Asia, Europe, and North America.