For Ian, Anzac day is a time to remember the highs and lows of armed conflict and the people he served with, looking past the hype, and focusing on personal reflection.

 “I see Anzac Day as a personal time for honest reflection about the conflicts I was involved in; those I served with; what we achieved and the great camaraderie we shared. It also makes me pause to reflect on the momentous international events I played a very small part in those I served with; what we achieved and the great camaraderie we shared.”

Though he doesn’t usually participate in marches, Ian prefers to spend Anzac Day with family. “Last year my wife and I walked down to a small memorial near where we live and stood for a few minutes to pay our respect to all the service people who lost their lives serving Australia, and their families who had to suffer because of their service. This year I’ll do much the same.

Notwithstanding my usual approach of not marching, I have on a few occasions participated in Anzac Day in Sydney with the Clearance Diving Branch and it has always been a great day and an opportunity to catch up and share a few ‘quiet ales’ with old comrades I probably would not otherwise see.”

While he never served in a conflict with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) specifically, Ian did train and work alongside then during his overall career.

As a young Officer of the Watch on HMAS Swan, Parker’s ship spent a lot of time training with an RNZN Destroyer escort. Despite the typical rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, the two navies worked well together at sea and got along famously on shore – except for when they played rugby against each other.

Training forged friendships between the two Navies and Parker became good friends with a Kiwi diver during his Clearance Diving Course. The group flew over to New Zealand to conduct deep diving training with the Kiwi diving team on their dive boat, HMNZS Manawanui. The two-week training session was a great experience, filled with plenty of deep diving in stunning locations north of Auckland, and further cemented the bond between the Australian and New Zealand divers.

‘Despite their small size the RNZN was, and still is a very professional and highly skilled navy, and they were very good to work alongside’.

.

The post BEYOND THE MARCHING appeared first on PFG.

Pat Conroy, the Minister for Defence Industry, and Carol Brown, the Assistant Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, visited advanced manufacturing company PFG to view the companies operations and experience The Sentinel 1100. The aim of the visit was to showcase the virtues of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as a boat building material and how it compares to other materials used in boat building.

During their visit, the ministers experience The Sentinel 1100, a tactical response vessel, built using HDPE. A ride on the Derwent gave both Ministers the opportunity to observe the stability, durability, and resilience of the Sea Boat in action. HDPE has advantages over other traditional boat building materials such as aluminium, fiberglass, and composite materials. For instance, HDPE is highly resistant to abrasion, impact, and puncture, and requires minimal maintenance compared to other materials.

After experiencing The Sentinel, the ministers toured PFG’s workshop, where they observed how HDPE is applied in boat building. A display with various advantages of using HDPE over other boat building materials, including its exceptional buoyancy and stability in rough water conditions, its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, and its resistance to corrosion, rot, and other forms of degradation was available.

Overall, the visit by the ministers was an opportunity to showcase the benefits of HDPE as a superior material for boat building. The Sentinel 1100 boat built using HDPE is a perfect example of how the material can be used to produce high-quality, long-lasting boats that require minimal maintenance and can withstand even the harshest weather conditions.

The post THE SENTINEL DOES NOT DISSAPOINT appeared first on PFG.

One of the main goals of this project is to establish a second fabrication line, therefore increasing PFG’s production capacity. This will involve implementing improvements to logistic processes and providing staff training to ensure high-quality manufacturing. The second fabrication line will effectively double PFG’s production capacity, enabling the company to take on more international defence contracts and compete in the global marketplace.

Additionally, PFG will upgrade its facility physical and cyber security. This will ensure that PFG’s manufacturing operations are secure and protected against any potential security breaches. These upgrades will be critical in enabling PFG to secure and maintain international defence contracts that require a high level of security compliance.

Overall, this project will improve PFG’s manufacturing capability and facility suitability for international defence contracts, enabling the company to continue delivering quality Australian-manufactured products. By enhancing its production capacity and security measures, PFG will be able to compete effectively in the global defence marketplace and contribute to Australia’s defence industry.

The post PFG AWARDED THE DEFENCE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS GRANT appeared first on PFG.

In the lead up to Christmas, Chris was in Kingston, donating his time. His efforts are aimed at raising awareness and funds for the organisation, which has been helping the families of ex-servicemen and women for many years.

The Legacy Christmas pudding is made using an exclusive recipe that is unique to the organisation. The pudding is known for its delicious taste and has become a popular choice among supporters of Legacy. Through the efforts of volunteers’ efforts, Legacy can continue to provide much-needed assistance to the families of ex-servicemen and women. Chris’s commitment to this cause serves as an inspiration to many, and his contributions have helped to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

The post SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS’ FAMILIES appeared first on PFG.

Held at the Parliament of Australia on 29th November, this event brought together various stakeholders from Australia’s defence industry, national security experts, and senior defence leaders to highlight the critical role of the Australian defence industry in contributing to the nation’s sovereignty, security, and safety.

During the event, PFG took the opportunity to connect with familiar faces and showcase The Sentinel. The event highlighted the integral role of the Australian defence industry in Australia’s economy through sovereign supply chains, modern manufacturing practices, research and innovation, skills development, and regional employment.

As a proud sponsor of the event, PFG demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Australian defence industry and its contribution to national security and the economy. The Sentinel Family of Sea boats manufactured in Tasmania showcased PFG’s expertise in providing advanced technology solutions for the defence sector.

The post SHOWCASING PFG’s SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY appeared first on PFG.

Key speakers at the Summit explored, what  industry seeks from its education providers and examine the impediments that may hinder the development of a more skilled and capable workforce both within the Defence and Private sectors. This will be essential in ensuring that the Defence industry in Australia remains competitive and sustainable in the long-term.

The conference focused on identifying best-case scenarios for the re-skilling and upskilling of the current labour force, with a particular emphasis on continuous improvement programs that can deliver an agile, flexible and efficient workforce. These programs will play a critical role in enabling the Defence industry in Australia to adapt and respond to evolving challenges and opportunities.

During the Summit, thirty delegates visited PFG, to view the latest addition to their Family of Sea Boats, The Sentinel 1100. This provided an opportunity for attendees to see first hand the innovative technology and capabilities that are driving the future of the Defence industry in Australia. The Sentinel 1100 is a cutting-edge Sea Boat , and the demonstration of its capabilities and how it can that contribute to Australia’s future Defence capability was a valuable addition to the Summit.

The post ADM SKILLING SUMMIT DELEGATES VISIT PFG appeared first on PFG.

The Victoria team has reason to celebrate as they are ending the year on a high note. They have successfully secured a major contract for highway safety products, which is a significant accomplishment for the team. As a result of this contract, production at the Morwell facility will expand, and new tools will be brought online to deliver on the contract.

The expansion of production at Morwell is a positive development for PFG, as it will increase their rotomoulding production capabilities. This, in turn, will create new job opportunities in regional Victoria and provide support for Australian manufactured products. The growth of PFG’s rotomoulding production is an excellent example of how local businesses can contribute to the development of the region and support the wider Australian economy.

The contract win and subsequent production growth are significant achievements for the Victoria team. The expansion of production and increase in job opportunities will have a positive impact on the local community and the Australian economy

The post MAJOR CONTRACT FOR PFG VICTORIA appeared first on PFG.

Tasmanian advanced manufacturing group PFG has today officially launched The Sentinel 1100, the latest in its Family of Sea Boats designed for high-performance defence, security and emergency services.

The stealthy, low-profile vessel has a reconfigurable design for elite defence requirements, such as high-speed pursuits, air drops, hard beaching, or the insertion of troops. The next generation 11m boat can be networked with cloud-based monitoring and control systems for optional autonomous operation.

“A major point of difference for The Sentinel 1100 is its innovative construction from high-density polyethylene (HDPE),” says PFG Chief Executive Officer, Rob Inches. “This is the next evolution of a material PFG has pioneered for decades; tried and tested in harsh Southern Ocean environments to be near-indestructible and rapidly repairable in action.

“Duty of care is paramount when our elite defence forces deploy into the field. HDPE has unique vibration-dampening properties, meaning The Sentinel 1100 can achieve maximum speed, stability, and handling with minimal personnel fatigue.

“It brings our service men and women home safe.”

 

The Sentinel 1100 is designed in partnership with Sydney-based One2Three Naval Architects, informed by the operational experience of PFG’s Defence Capability Advisory Committee – a board of navy and security veterans.

The vessel has already generated buzz when previewed at defence trade shows in Australia and the US this year. The Hon. Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries officially launched The Sentinel 1100 in Hobart on Tuesday.

“It’s so exciting to see innovative Tasmanian businesses like PFG come to the fore, as Australia looks to strengthen its sovereign defence capability and do all we can to keep our people safe,” Minister Ogilvie said.

“The Australian Defence Force has identified shipbuilding as a priority area to be delivered by local industry, and ‘specialised watercraft, maritime products and advanced services’ is also a priority area under the Tasmanian Defence Industry Strategy.

“In Tasmania, we are building the essential skills, technology and intellectual property to keep Australia secure.”

“We’re confident The Sentinel Family of Sea Boats puts PFG in a competitive position for upcoming ADF tenders next year,” says Mr Inches.

The post CUTTING-EDGE TASMANIAN TACTICAL DEFENCE VESSEL MAKING WAVES appeared first on PFG.

The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) vessels combine the best of materials technology with Australian design ingenuity and an innate knowledge of local conditions.

HDPE is our boatbuilding material of choice for The Sentinel family of tactical defence vessels, not least because it’s so hard to break, and so easy to repair.

Any damage can be patched in situ, with no specialised equipment or hot works required.

HDPE’s combination of safety, durability and performance make the vessels perfect for tactical applications.

They feature a highly configurable layout and can be fully networked with the latest software for intelligent invigilation and autonomous operation.

HDPE’s shock-absorbing, vibration-dampening properties mean the vessels can achieve maximum speed with minimal personnel fatigue, while compromising nothing in execution and handling.

The Sentinel range is the next evolution of PFG and One2three’s decades of experience pioneering HDPE marine products and workboats, tried and tested in punishing Southern Ocean environments.

From design to manufacture to end-of-life recycling, the Sentinel is a truly Australian vessel crafted for the highest level of strategic operations and emergency response – when failure is not an option.

We will be at Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in Brisbane 4-6th October, where our CEO Robert Inches will demonstrate the reparability  of HDPE.

The video below demonstrates the repair of HDPE

The post REPAIRING HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) appeared first on PFG.

Alice Clarke recently joined the team and PFG hope to put on more staff as the workshop continues to grow. Starting with PFG as a Trade Assistant, Alice originally started her career in a metal fabrication apprenticeship. .

Here’s why Alice joined PFG and what she enjoys most about her position.

What does a day at PFG look like to you?

A: The day varies, I organise boat pieces, do plastic welding and make missing pieces for the boats. This is more than just an average Trade Assistance role as I get given jobs and I also get to watch and learn more about the trade.

What is the best thing about your role?

A: Making things is definitely the best thing about the job. I get to make things every day, it’s so cool!

What made you want to be a metal/ plastic fabricator?

A: I’m 2 years into a metal fabrication apprenticeship (of 4 years), and I’ve switched across to plastic fabrications. Moving to plastic I learn new skills, work with more power tools than you do in metal fabrication, and hand tools. Here I’ve been learning to read and understand different plans and designs.

What made you want to be a ‘tradie’?

A: My Dad worked at Incat and I always liked the stories that he told when he came home from work. I want to create my own stories.

If you’re ready to launch your boat building career contact us today

Alice has already started to create her own stories, hoping to inspire more women to join the trade industry she was recently interview by the the Mercury Newspaper

The post MORE HANDS ON DECK appeared first on PFG.