SAGE starts on Defence Work

Tuesday 31st August 2010 9:03am

TIA member SAGE Automation has started building the first of 500 control panels that will coordinate the essential systems of Australia's $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyers.

[article from The Advertiser 31st August 2010 by Russell Emmerson]

The panels, to be built as part of a four year $2.5 million contract with Spanish naval defence company Navantia, will start delivering panels to the AWD Alliance in just three months time.

SAGE Group General Manager Andrew Downs said the company's agreement with Navantia would underpin its continued expansion into the defence space - a move that started in 2006.

"We researched the global market and improved our internal systems to ensure we met stringent compliance and traceability requirements in the defence sector," he said.

"We also employed the best people with the highest calibre of technical expertise and defence experience ahead of time."

"SAGE has become a committed supplier to the defence sector and the Navantia contract is a strong industry endorsement that will no doubt help us to target further appointments."

Navantia Australia's contract and business development Manager, Emiliano Matesanz said the agreement complemented Navantia's role as a prime supplier.

"This subcontract strengthens our times with local industry," he said.

The control panels will form part of the AWD"s Integrated Platform Management Systems, which provide real time monitoring and control of each ships hull, mechanical electrical and damage control systems.

This is th firs contract to flow from a memorandum of understanding signed by Navantia and SAGE last September.

The agreement positions SAGE as Navantia's in country subcontractor for control systems on two projects but also give is it a running start for the ongoing maintenance contracts.

Tom Sulda, National Project Systems Manager is a TIA Director, click here to read Tom's profile.