By CASEY NEILL
A DANDENONG South casting company could play a key role in creating Australia’s newest submarines.
AW Bell was among select businesses to meet with German submarine manufacturer ThyssenKrupp during a recent Australian roadshow with potential suppliers.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia (TKMSA) was preparing a bid to supply new submarines to the Royal Australian Navy through the $50 billion SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program.
AW Bell CEO Sam Bell said the company had evolved since its establishment in the early 1950s.
“Foreseeing ongoing decline in automotive work, in the ’80s we embarked on an innovation program to stay ahead of such industry change,” he said.
This developed new casting processes, including aluminium billet equivalent (ABE), which attracted work from sectors such as defence.
“The high strength and density of parts made via ABE allowed sophisticated geometries than could not, normally, be machined from a bar of metal,” Mr Bell said.
“With this technology we were able to secure supply contracts for five components for the F35 joint strike fighters and numerous other support components for that program.
“These technology improvements also allowed AW Bell to secure contracts for some 20 components used in ongoing remediation of Collins class submarines.”
TKMSA chairman John White said the company was keen to meet the AW Bell team given this track record.
“As the most experienced designer and builder of conventional submarines, we have been very impressed with the calibre and track record of AW Bell and other potential suppliers we’ve met recently,” he said.
“We base this evaluation on delivering more than 160 submarines across 20 different navies.”
Final bids for the project were submitted on 30 November and it is anticipated that the Federal Government will make further announcements early next year.
