GME opens new Zone 4 facility to boost Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing capability

GME, an Australian manufacturer of communications and life-saving equipment, has unveiled a new $5 million Zone 4 manufacturing facility at its headquarters in Winston Hills, Sydney. The facility will enable the manufacture of secure communications and electronic products to support a large range of Defence industry projects, providing a significant contribution to Australia’s future national security. At a time when Australia is expanding its armed forces and investing in new technology to ensure it can respond to geo-strategic challenges, it is essential that the ADF is able to develop and manufacture its own equipment, without relying on allies or international supply chains. By being able to determine the direction of research and innovation and rapidly develop prototypes, Australia can also ensure its defence forces are best equipped to respond to future threats. Australia’s future security also rests on close collaboration with international allies and GME’s Zone 4 facility will enable international Defence primes to meet Australian Industry Capability (AIC) requirements, helping to ensure that Australian manufacturing is involved in Defence capability acquisition and sustainment programs. GME currently produces over 40,000 products per month, employing 230 Australians, including 45 engineers, in highly skilled roles. The opening of the Zone 4 facility will enable GME to expand its capacity while creating a further 30 jobs. Its establishment has been made possible thanks to a $4 million investment from GME and a further $1 million in government funding. “As a 100 percent Australian-owned company, we wanted to play our part in protecting our nation’s future. By being able to research, develop and manufacture High Assurance electronic equipment in Australia, our defence forces will gain a crucial strategic advantage by being less reliant on global allies and supply chains. The facility will also enable international Primes to satisfy their AIC requirements, stimulating the expansion of local manufacturing capabilities and engineering skills to meet the future defence and national security needs of our nation,” said Stephen Millar, CEO and managing director, GME. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]