Victoria continues to lead the way as the nation’s advanced manufacturing capital with the opening of an innovation centre for smart technology in fleet vehicles.
On Thursday, May 25, Small Business Minister Natalie Suleyman officially opened Directed Technologies’ $1.5 million Connected Mobility Innovation Centre, within their new $15 million Headquarters at Tullamarine.
The centre is set to create nearly 60 new jobs over three years and allow the company to expand its export markets.
Directed Technologies designs and manufactures navigational systems for the transport industry and fleet vehicles such as freight and emergency services trucks.
The company’s system considers a vehicle’s dimensions, weight and clearance when planning routes to help its driver travel safely and efficiently to their destination.
The new centre will enable Directed Technologies to expand its transport technology by developing smart sensors that can keep track of important safety metrics including driver fatigue, tyre pressure and temperature of refrigerated cargo.
This means clients such as Australia Post can know exactly what is happening to their vehicles on the ground, improving safety and service reliability.
Victoria’s manufacturing sector is one of the state’s largest employers, contributing around $31 billion to the economy each year and providing around 30 per cent of Australia’s manufacturing output. Manufacturing also supports small businesses and local jobs in their supply chains.
Small Business Minister Natalie Suleyman said Victoria’s advanced manufacturing industry supports many small businesses along their supply chain, boosting the economy and creating local jobs.
“We support businesses like Directed Technologies because they bring skilled jobs and investment to Victoria, which further cements our status as the nation’s advanced manufacturing hub,” she said.
