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Thales answers the call for advanced manufacturing
- 1. 30 | November 2016 | www.australiandefence.com.au PATRICK DURRANT | SYDNEY As the first member of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), Thales Australia will play a role in the effort to transform the supply chain enterprise into one that is globally competitive, seeking niche markets and boosting the nation’s export potential. DEFENCE BUSINESS AMGC Thales answers the ingresearchandmanufacturinginthesonar and acoustics domain, CEO Chris Jenkins hosted the managing director of AMGC Dr Jens Goennemann to a tour of the Thales facility in Rydalmere, Sydney.“We’re turning out the world’s leading sonar sen- sorshere,”JenkinstoldADM.“Theproduct we are developing is globally exported – we do the transducers for the UK and French submarines, we’re also doing the sonars for the FREMM ASW frigates in Europe, the big low frequency units.” A passionate mechanical engineer who specialised in acoustics, Jenkins proudly explained the sophisticated work being undertaken by the 450 employees at the facility. Dr Goennemann and ADM were shown the process by which ceramics are developed and incorporated into highly sensitive hydrophones, transducers, sonars and towed arrays. “If people get excited about other great Australian success stories like Cochlear, or ResMed – this here is the sonar version of those stories, and the supply chain connect- ed to this is extensive,” Jenkins said. The advanced work Thales has been do- ing for many years in the sonar space repre- sents exactly the kind of methodology and mind-set the AMGC is seeking to foster throughout Australian industry. “What we have here is a highly specialised advanced manufacturer that isn’t focused on interstaterivalrybutratheritsabilitytocom- peteontheworldstagewithsomethingniche andsosophisticated,”DrGoennemannsaid. “That is exactly why we’ve chosen Thales as our first member company.” WhatnextInjoiningtheAMGCasaTier 1 member, Thales will support the AMGC in achieving key functions such as assist- ing Australian advanced manufacturers of all sizes to connect with the global supply chain. It is in a prime position to do so – the company owns a 35 per cent stake in DCNS which secured the contract to design and build the Sea 1000 Future Submarines and is already heavily involved in the sonar de- sign work that will support the program. The AMGC is also looking for visionary leadership from prospective Tier 1 mem- bers. Last year Thales secured the $1.3 bil- lion contract to deliver the light protected FORMER managing director Airbus Group AsiaPacificDrJensGoennemannbeganhis new role heading up the AMGC in Febru- ary this year. One of six centres established as part of the Government’s $248 million Growth Centres Initiative, the Centre’s role is to unlock new commercial opportunities and drive innovation by fostering collabora- tion between industry enterprises and the scientific and research community. On 7 October Thales Australia joined the AMGC as the first industry member, signing an agreement to work with the or- ganisation and future members to develop a more innovative, globally competitive manufacturing sector in Australia. To showcase the company’s pedigree in this regard, and particularly its world-lead- CEO Thales Australia Chris Jenkins (left) explains the complex manufacturing process of ceramics used in highly sensitive transducers to AMGC MD Dr Jens Goennemann at Thales' Rydalmere site in Sydney. manufacturing call for advanced