ROCKHAMPTON herbicide manufacturer Cirrus Ag, has been awarded $914,541 in the third round of the Palaszczuk Government's Made in Queensland (MiQ) grants program.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said the pandemic has highlighted the importance Queensland manufacturing industry and its ability to address supply chain challenges.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to the ongoing transformation of the state's manufacturing industry as it transitions to advanced manufacturing," Mr Butcher said.
This is just another example of how we're delivering Queensland's economic plan to recover from COVID-19 and build our state back better.
- Minister Glenn Butcher.
Cirrus Ag spokesman Paul Hubbard said adopting the latest automated granular manufacturing technology will drive innovation, reduce costs, and increase job security for regional employees.
"Becoming more self-sufficient makes a lot of sense," Mr Hubbard said.
"This grant will introduce flexible manufacturing capability to our Rockhampton facility supporting just in time manufacturing in response to seasonal needs and to offer local manufacturing services not currently available in Queensland."
Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said the MiQ grant will provide opportunities for Cirrus Ag to adopt innovative processes and create jobs of the future.
"Local company Cirrus Ag is investing almost $2.5 million to introduce automated manufacturing production techniques to Australia that will enhance the quality of its products and reduce Queensland's reliance on interstate resources," Mr O'Rourke said.
"The project will improve supply chain control which will reduce production, freight and logistics costs and open up export opportunities.
"The project will support manufacturing at scale alongside building capacity for Cirrus Ag to offer toll manufacturing services to local industry creating eight new local jobs."
Over two rounds of MiQ, 65 of the 75 projects have already been completed and manufacturers have retained over 3,400 existing jobs and already created more than 380 new jobs through these projects.
