North Queensland steel company gets cutting edge laser technology
Published Thursday, 09 November, 2006 at 01:35 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
A major North Queensland steel manufacturer will receive $200,000 in State Government funding to upgrade to laser technology.
Minister for State Development John Mickel said the Regional Business Development Scheme grant would allow Tonkin Steel to purchase a 12 mm laser cutter with rotolas capability.
“The company, with branches in Cairns, Townsville and Atherton, was established more than 40 years ago and serves the area from Bowen to Cape York and west to the Gulf of Carpentaria,” Mr Mickel said.
“The North Queensland engineering sector will welcome the addition of laser cutting technology to the company’s manufacturing services, “ Mr Mickel said.
“Currently the region loses in excess of $1 million in laser cutting work to Brisbane each year.
“This impacts on costs, skills development, employment prospects and delivery times to regional customers, especially in the wet season.
“The introduction of this new technology will increase the overall competitiveness of the region’s engineering sector and bring new skills to the region,” Mr Mickel said.
“The project will include an industry demonstration night and production of an educational video to help break the skills shortage cycle. “
The video will be used by schools, tertiary institutions, industry and organisations such as the Business Liaison Association, Cairns Region Group Training and other representative organisations throughout Queensland to promote the trades as a career pathway.
It is expected the grant will result in 20 new jobs, significant increases in domestic and export sales and the investment of more than $5 million over the next three years.
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Tonkin Steel Contact: Wayne and Vic Tonkin, 07 4051 7488
Email: wtonkin@tonkinsteel.com.au
9 November, 2006
Minister for State Development John Mickel said the Regional Business Development Scheme grant would allow Tonkin Steel to purchase a 12 mm laser cutter with rotolas capability.
“The company, with branches in Cairns, Townsville and Atherton, was established more than 40 years ago and serves the area from Bowen to Cape York and west to the Gulf of Carpentaria,” Mr Mickel said.
“The North Queensland engineering sector will welcome the addition of laser cutting technology to the company’s manufacturing services, “ Mr Mickel said.
“Currently the region loses in excess of $1 million in laser cutting work to Brisbane each year.
“This impacts on costs, skills development, employment prospects and delivery times to regional customers, especially in the wet season.
“The introduction of this new technology will increase the overall competitiveness of the region’s engineering sector and bring new skills to the region,” Mr Mickel said.
“The project will include an industry demonstration night and production of an educational video to help break the skills shortage cycle. “
The video will be used by schools, tertiary institutions, industry and organisations such as the Business Liaison Association, Cairns Region Group Training and other representative organisations throughout Queensland to promote the trades as a career pathway.
It is expected the grant will result in 20 new jobs, significant increases in domestic and export sales and the investment of more than $5 million over the next three years.
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Tonkin Steel Contact: Wayne and Vic Tonkin, 07 4051 7488
Email: wtonkin@tonkinsteel.com.au
9 November, 2006