HOFMANN Engineering is cutting 15 jobs from its North Bendigo facility to make way for robotic and advanced manufacturing equipment.
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Staff were informed of the decision on Friday morning during an all-staff meeting.
The move came just three months after Hofmann Engineering won a contract to build 900 bogie frames for the $2.3 billion high capacity metro trains project.
At the time, Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan stated the contract would allow the company to employ a further 30 people.
But the company has since announced a restructure, and 15 jobs will effectively be replaced with robots.
In a statement, Perth-based Hofmann Engineering described job losses as “regrettable”.
“Following a review of business operations at Bendigo, Hofmann Engineering is investing in the capacity and capability of the Bendigo operation with the purchase of robotic and advanced manufacturing equipment,” the statement reads.
“The facility is also being restructured to enable it to continue to supply a high quality product in a very cost competitive market.
“This restructure regrettably means approximately 15 employees have been made redundant.”
Hofmann Engineering was quick to reassure its clients that the job losses would not impact the quality of its products manufactured at the facility in North Bendigo.
“The restructure will not have a negative impact on the service to our customers and we will continue to supply highly innovative and cost effective products to meet the needs of our customers now, and into the future,” the statement reads.
Hofmann opened the North Bendigo facility in 2010 after purchasing five hectares of land and workshops from the Thales site.
It manufactures heavy fabricated product that requires heat treatment and precision machinery for assembly, focusing on the manufacture of mill shells and heads.
The facility also complements the supply of girth gears, gearboxes and inching drives.
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said any job losses in Bendigo were disappointing.
“It’s disappointing for the 15 workers and their families, I want to see that the appropriate support is given to them during this time,” she said.