By CASEY NEILL
“MANUFACTURING keeps this country moving. We need manufacturing.“
Senator Kim Carr couldn’t have stated more clearly his support for the industry in Dandenong’s Drum Theatre.
He was the keynote speaker at the Smart Manufacturing ’16 – Dandenong and South East Melbourne on Show symposia on Tuesday 17 May.
More than 1500 people registered for the event, part of a wider showcase that surrounded Harmony Square.
Students from schools across the region, businesspeople and the general public flocked in their hundreds to view displays from successful manufacturers.
Stories from businesses and live crosses played on the Harmony Square big screen and trains, trams and buses blocked Walker Street.
Mr Carr said manufacturing was “the key to a strong and advanced industrial economy“ and employed nearly 9000 Australians.
He said Federal Government support for research and development, education and bolstering overseas competitiveness was crucial – particularly given the impending departure of key automotive companies from Australia.
“The shutdown of the major car makers doesn’t mean the end of the industry,“ he said.
“I’m confident there will be an automotive sector in Austraila after 2017.“
Walkinshaw Automotive’s Lisa Dwyer explained at the Clayton company’s display that it employed 200 people and made Holden special vehicles.
“Days like these keep people interested in engineering – and doing it in Australia,“ she said.
It also imports left-hand drive cars, pulls them apart and converts them to right-hand drive, and has engineer and design staff that also produce work for other companies.
“With the looming exit of the car industry we want to diversify and keep people employed,“ she said.
Dandenong Primary School teacher Nicolette Pratt was leading 45 Grade 5 students on a quest around the event zone, a question-sheet in hand and the answers pinned to various stalls.
“We wanted to know what Dandenong makes,“ she said.
“They were amazed to see the trains.“
A farm to plate section featured produce from Officer juice producer Summer Snow, Clyde’s Australian Fresh Leaf Herbs, and Gembrook potato grower and potato product maker Mountain Harvest Foods.
Maddel and Corex had on display a pop-up emergency shelter that goes from flat-packed to liveable in 15 minutes – created in Dandenong.
“We’re developing a unit for a field hospital,“ Ian Harrison from Maddel said.
“This is the first year we’ve had manufacturing capacity.
“This is the year we’re really going to launch.“
Dandenong South’s Hilton Manufacturing put on a barbecue to raise cash for State Schools’ Relief Fund, which supplies school uniforms to underprivileged children.
Managing director Todd Hartley said they had 1500 snags to cook – or one every nine seconds – and hoped to raise $1000.
He also had traffic management screens on display and new LED outdoor entertainment systems.
“We’ve been round for 35 years as a subcontractor to businesses,“ Mr Hartley said.
“This is our first time owning our own intellectual property.
“It’s a change of direction for the business.“
IVECO brought a 1969 Acco truck alongside two new vehicles.
The Dandenong-based company sourced it from a farm shed in Dalby, Queensland, for Linfox for its 40th birthday celebrations.
Linfox originally use it to deliver Carlton and United Breweries products.
Ward Petherbridge from Waste Converters and Committee for Dandenong set up an interactive display, including painting and planting – all with recycled materials at the centre.
The Dandenong South company is applying for Future Industries Fund cash for a $15-$20 million integrated resource recovery facility project.
It will harvest recyclables and convert residual waste into fuel.
Chromaflo Technologies invited guests to create their own paint colours.
The Dandenong South manufacturer produces colouring for paint, plastics and more.
Student dabbles in making paint colours.
