Eighty-six manufacturing enterprises across Australia got federal funding under Round 2 of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI), collectively receiving $55 million in federal government funds – matched three-to one by the businesses, with the government contributing up to 25% of eligible expenses.
Of these, several are part of the nation’s largest manufacturing sub-sector: food and beverage.
MMI Round 2 grant recipients in the food and beverage manufacturing sector include a pie-bakery keen to expand production, a recycled-packaging manufacturer, a soon-to-be-greener brewery, a supplier of beekeeping systems, and a business looking to install new freeze-drying and processing equipment and technology.
Sustainable coffee cups and pods
MMI grant funding will enable Western Australia’s Bonissimo Coffee Roasters to install $1.4 million in equipment to manufacture cups and coffee pods from 100 per cent organic, fully compostable bio-polymers. Post-upgrade, coffee-pod production will be increased six-fold, allowing the firm to employ more staff and pursue new export opportunities for its premium coffee products.
More of Garlo’s pies
Garlo’s Pies Pty Ltd in New South Wales will receive $746,571 towards a $2.96m production facilities upgrade enabling it to increase production of its pie products from around 4,500 to 8,000 units per hour. The project will create up to 27 new jobs and help the company pursue product export opportunities.
Upgrades, scale-ups and sustainability improvements
Other food and beverage sector recipients included:
- Australian Honeybee, which will use its Round 2 funding to upgrade its facilities in Fyshwick, ACT, enabling it to manufacture its patented beekeeping system;
- Modus, which will install world-leading thermal energy storage at its brewery expansion in Mereweather, NSW, reducing its power consumption and use of chemicals;
- T.R. Holdings in Alloway, Queensland, which will use the MMI funds to help it upgrade to next-generation food processing technology; and
- The Forager Food Co. in Western Junction, Tasmania, which will establish world-class freeze drying and processing facilities.
Why modernising matters
In a 29 June 2021 media release, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the MMI funding will help businesses across Australia to modernise their manufacturing processes. This in turn improves productivity, reduces costs, enables them to target new export opportunities and creates highly-skilled manufacturing jobs.
“Australia’s manufacturing sector is vitally important to our economy, directly employing more than 900,000 Australian workers and contributing almost $120 billion to our export earnings last year,” Minister Porter said.
“That’s why the Morrison Government is backing manufacturing businesses like Bonissimo in WA and 85 others right across the country with significant financial support to help them to modernise, innovate and grow.
“Investing in the latest manufacturing technology and equipment helps them to remain internationally competitive by improving their productivity and increasing their capacity to target new export markets for their products.
“Just as importantly, these investments also help to grow well-paid and highly skilled jobs in the modern manufacturing sector for Australian workers.
“We know that for every manufacturing job we create, at least three additional jobs are created in other areas of our economy.”
Source: $55m to help Australian manufacturers modernise and grow I The Hon Christian Porter MP, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Media release