Packer Leather boots another winner

Published Tuesday, 17 October, 2017 at 02:30 PM

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Iconic Narangba manufacturer Packer Leather is set to update its technology and boost jobs, thanks to a half-million-dollar State Government grant.                                                                                                                                

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the award-winning exporter would use the $530,000 grant to install state-of-the-art equipment to reduce production time.

 “Packer Leather will use the grant to install an advanced manufacturing system, automated batching system, a rapid pattern press and closed system conditioning to reduce production and prototype lead times while maintaining product quality,” Dr Lynham said.

“Thanks to Packer’s vision and the Queensland Government’s investment, the company will have access to the manufacturing processes they need and their 120 employees will have secure, highly-skilled jobs into the future.

“Packer believes they will be able to create six new jobs as they reduce lead times and open up production capacity for additional products.”

Packer Leather, a fifth-generation family business established in 1891, is a preferred supplier with major global brands which uses its kangaroo leathers for products ranging from football boots to firefighters’ gloves.

Member for Murrumba Chris Whiting said Packer Leather “is a great example of a Queensland manufacturer and exporter whose strong appetite for innovation will keep them competitive in the international marketplace.”

“If you are familiar with the Sherrin football, then you are familiar with a Packer Leather product,’’ Mr Whiting said.

The Premier of Queensland’s Exporter of the Year in 2015, Packer also won the Tom Burns Award for Excellence in Asia Pacific in 2014. 

Queensland’s $20 billion manufacturing sector already employs 169,000 people. The Palaszczuk Government has a 10-year plan to transition the state’s manufacturing sector to more advanced manufacturing high-paid, knowledge-based jobs.

The $20 million Made in Queensland program offers matching grants of between $50,000 and $2.5 million to manufacturers looking to adopt innovative processes and technologies to generate highly-skilled jobs and become more internationally competitive. Manufacturers have to match the government grant monies dollar-for-dollar under the Made in Queensland Program.

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Media: David Potter 0428 411 617