AUSTRALIAN Defence Apparel predicts a significant increase in defence orders in the next three years will lead to “rapid growth” at its Bendigo factory.
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The factory in East Bendigo – which employs more than 100 people – manufactures more than 1.5 million garments per year.
This figure is expected to grow in coming years after an increase in orders from the Australian Defence Force. The company has also increased its workforce by 12.5 per cent in the last 12 months.
ADA Bendigo factory manager Kerry Hodges said the future was bright at the factory.
“ADA’s Bendigo factory is about to enter a period of rapid growth over the six to 12 months, mostly due to a significant increase in orders from the defence sector over the next three years,” she said.
The company could not confirm if the increase in orders will result in extra jobs in Bendigo. A decision in 2013 to end night shifts and part-time day shifts resulted in 58 job losses.
Despite the job losses three years ago, about 80 sewing workers remain at the site.
ADA chief executive officer Matt Graham said the company had a commitment to Bendigo.
“ADA has a strong commitment to the long-term sustainability and capability of Australian manufacturing,” he said.
“Our Bendigo factory now manufactures more than 1.5 million garments every year, and has supplied over 5 million garments to clients around the world over the last 10 years.
“So we see our future as a Victorian apparel manufacturer as prosperous and exciting.”
Across Australia, employment in manufacturing has fallen 25.9 per cent in the last five years, due to offshoring and increased competition from imports.
Research also found 12,000 Victorian businesses are at “high risk” of financial failure in the coming 12 months, with manufacturing the highest risk.
Mr Graham said the increase in orders from the ADF should provide certainty for the future of ADA in Bendigo.
The factory has also recently started adding Soldier On tags to the defence apparel, highlighting the free mental health and rehabilitation service available to personnel.
Mr Graham said the company was proud to support better mental health for ADF personnel.
“Our Bendigo factory ADA will be manufacturing over 40,000 defence uniforms a month featuring the Soldier On swing tags, with an end goal of distributing 500,000 uniforms in total by February 2017,” Mr Graham said.
“This partnership builds on our long history of protecting army personnel with its uniforms, by now helping to promote their mental wellbeing through inclusion of Soldier On's details with every uniform we make.”
