HVIA member Vacvator has been awarded a $1.14 million grant from the NSW Government to extend its workshop, enhance automation and streamline workflows, creating up to 15 new skilled jobs in the process.
Established in 2006, the company builds state-of-the-art vacuum excavation equipment and trucks for non-destructive digging and hydro-excavation from its Goulburn-based manufacturing facility.
On top of the government funding, Vacvator is investing a further $570,835 to deliver up to $1.71 million to extend and enhance its operations.
The funding is part of the Government’s plan to deliver sustainable, strategic investment in priority projects that strengthen regional economies.
Vacvator manufactures customised excavation trucks used in the civil construction, infrastructure, utilities and mining sectors.
The investment will maximise the company’s production capacity, increasing output from 1.5 to three trucks per month, and create up to 15 skilled jobs in the manufacturing, engineering, logistics and construction sectors.
Owner and Director Andrew Rowlands says Vacvator is “very grateful for this funding”.
“The timing of this grant aligns well with the significant investment we have made recently to expand our Goulburn facility,” he says.
“Through continual improvement, Vacvator has developed a technologically advanced, well-engineered product that gives us an edge in a competitive global market, and as one of the few remaining vacuum excavation manufacturers that is still 100 per cent Australian-owned, we are proud to contribute to Australian manufacturing.
“This investment will help us increase production, create skilled local jobs, and continue to supply an Australian made product to infrastructure and mining projects across the country.”
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, adds it is a “great example of how the Minns Government is supporting manufacturing in our regions where we have so many great companies setting the benchmark for innovation, by backing projects like this we’re ensuring regional NSW is a leader in delivering world-class products”.
“Goulburn’s Vacvator will be able to continue innovating and adopting new technologies in an expanded space to grow this exciting business – which is supporting so many other essential industries as well as creating new jobs,” she says.