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.

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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.

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PFG are creators of durable products for harsh environments.

Many of these products are made from polyethylene, the most commonly used plastic in the world today.

Polyethylene is a material which can be ground back into reusable material, 100% recyclable.

PFG Victoria can provide this in-house service for its customers to ensure that not only do you get a strong and durable item, you also have the option of a ready made disposal system at the end of its life.

Process

1. Customers end-of-life product returned to PFG Victoria site for regrinding.  Product is cut down intomanageable sizes and non plastic material is removed
2. PFG also incorporates post production waste material streamlining internal processes and using allraw product.
3. The waste is then run through a shredder to reduce down to smaller chunk size pieces.
4. These pieces then go through our granulator to reduce down to 8mm granules.
5. The granules will then pass through the grinder producing the powder needed to go back into the manufacturing process.

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The award-winning company, which is currently constructing vessels for Defence New Zealand and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, is going through a sustained period of growth, leading the world in the application of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for defence vessels.

Chair of PFG, Christopher Oldfield, said the Board is delighted to welcome Tracy and looking forward to benefiting from her extensive experience.

“The PFG Board is committed to ensuring a strong membership and mix of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity,” Mr Oldfield said.

“Ms Matthews is a full-time director and governance professional, with more than 20 years’ experience as a non-executive director and more than 30 years’ experience as a chartered accountant.

“She has decades of experience from private, government and not-for-profit enterprises, and her broad experience will further strengthen the skills and expertise of our Board.”

Ms Matthews’ current and previous directorships and committee roles include Forico Pty Ltd, the Department of State Growth Audit and Risk Committee, the Public Trustee, Metro Tasmania, TasPlan Superannuation, Colony 47 Inc., Housing Connect and Van Diemen’s Band Inc. Public Fund.

“Tracy is a former Director of the Tasmanian Ports Corporation and Past Commodore of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania which demonstrates her experience in, and knowledge of, the maritime sector,” Mr Oldfield said.

“Tracy is highly regarded in the industry and we are very pleased to welcome her to the PFG Board.”

Ms Matthews is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

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Eleven Australian innovators from both the defence and civil sectors have been shortlisted for the prestigious Innovation Awards, worth $30,000, with three other Tasmanian companies as finalists.

The entry centred around High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as a ‘next generation’ boat building material, PFG’s use of which is understood to be a world-first for defence. HDPE has been proven to deliver advantages in industrial and workboat outcomes for over 30 years, and while we pioneered this in the southern hemisphere, our main goal has been to incorporate this material into a high-performing naval craft. In order to achieve this, we have been required to develop a deep working knowledge of the material, highly innovative methods of construction, and a strong partnership with design teams and end-users.

This introduction and adoption of HDPE as a boat building material for tactical watercraft for the application in the defence industry, is the reason we have been short-listed for the Indo Pacific 2022 National and SME Innovation Awards.

The winners will be announced at a special online event on 26 April and receive their Awards during the Indo Pacific 2022 International Maritime Exposition at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) at Darling Harbour.

PFG would like to congratulate all other short-listed organisations and look forward to updating you on the outcome after the winners are announced.

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The Kiel heritage is something PFG is proud of. With the creation of long-lasting relationships, and a wide and varied list of proprietary products, the plastic pallet range is the greatest in the Southern Hemisphere. PFG offers a vast range of bulk storage bins, insulated bins, and hopper bins. The New Era fuel tank range is the largest in Australia. The Roto-Loo composting toilet surpasses competitors in design and ease of use. PFG continues to create and develop innovative and durable custom products that Kiel Industries customers have come to rely upon.

PFG is an award-winning Australian company with over forty years’ of experience designing, manufacturing, and selling polymer and marine products to maritime security, aquaculture, mining, and civil construction services. PFG’s increased scale matches its range of products and services with manufacturing facilities in Prince of Wales Bay Tasmania, Port Lincoln South Australia, and Gippsland Victoria. From simple moorings and buoys to fabricating and designing offshore sea cages and tactical watercraft, PFG takes pride in being creators of durable products for harsh environments.

Mark and the team in Morwell continue to produce high-quality products, however, the online presence has changed. The Kiel Industries website is no longer online but you can connect via LinkedIn and Facebook.

With offerings under the PFG name being far more significant than previous, the service will remain excellent and pricing competitive.

Mark Medew at PFG Morwell

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“Today’s announcement that was part of a broader innovation and advanced manufacturing policy commitment, would provide certainty to our workforce and would enable us to rapidly commence a build on what we think will be a vessel that will be highly competitive in the forthcoming Tender”, Rob Inches, CEO of PFG said today.

“The Sentinel 1100, built from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), will enable us to demonstrate operationally that this next generation material offers unmatched performance, safety, durability and whole of life cost.

“HDPE is virtually indestructible, cannot corrode and is maintenance free, delivering a range of advantages to the Navy and broader Military and Defence Force, as well as public security and emergency service organisations.

“Tasmania has a history of innovative boat building stretching back almost 200 years and the skilled and dedicated workforce we have, are proud to continue this tradition.

“On behalf of all our workforce and suppliers we thank the Premier for this commitment. It is important that Tasmanian businesses are given every opportunity to compete on both a national and international stage and this announcement will allow us to demonstrate on the water that we have the proven performance to build boats that will meet the future demands of our Navy,” Mr Inches said.

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The Committee, chaired by former Australian Consul General and Austrade Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Chris Oldfield, includes Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Steve Gilmore AM CSC, Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Allan du Toit AM, former Tasmanian Police Inspector Lee Renshaw and PFG Group CEO Robert Inches, who, between them, have over 100 years’ experience in the Defence and public security environment.

“The Committee formalises pre-existing relationships, which have been supporting PFG for some time,” Committee Chair Chris Oldfield said in Hobart today. “The Committee members have over 100 years of distinguished service, and importantly have held senior operationally-focussed roles within the Defence, Navy, Police, and other national security organisations. I am confident there is no better group to oversee PFG’s Defence campaign as we seek to provide solutions to the inherent problems experienced by watercraft traditionally used in defence and public security sectors.

Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Steve Gilmore knows The Sentinel is the future technology Defence and Maritime Security organisations need. “High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is likely to be the solution to give the capability edge the ADF needs on the water,” he said. “The Sentinel is manufactured from HDPE which has a superior strength to density ratio, high impact resistance, does not corrode or electrolyse, absorbs vibration and is positively buoyant. These characteristics make The Sentinel more durable and virtually maintenance free, providing a smoother ride while reducing fatigue and other safety risks to the vessel operators.

“These fast response vessels have been operating in harsh Tasmanian waters for decades. Unlike composites and carbon fibre, they have a proven pedigree of service and reliability, and have ballistic resistance and vibration advantages.

As a former Commander of the Australian Fleet and Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, RADM (Rtd) Gilmore is joined by a former Commander of Border Protection Command and Head of Navy Capability, RADM (Rtd) du Toit in acknowledging that The Sentinel is a next generation tactical watercraft, that will offer the Australian Defence Force an operationally focussed vessel with superior capability to ensure it can most effectively fight and win at sea and across the littoral domain.

“There is no hiding the fact PFG is eager to win a contract with the Australian Defence Force and internationally. Defence ready – we have the capability, we have the proven performance, we have the future technology that Defence needs and now we have the formalised expert guidance of our Advisory Committee to add a depth of knowledge second to none. The Sentinel is a world class, proven Australian sovereign solution, and it’s built right here in Tasmania to serve and protect,” PFG CEO, Mr Inches said.

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The 2020 Force Structure Plan outlines the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) requirements for next generation specialised ships, seaboats, support vessels and army watercraft – including landing craft, coastal amphibious vessels and riverine patrol boats.  Tasmania’s Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore, said the state has a proven shipbuilding capability, having constructed ships and watercraft over decades for defence and security sectors, the offshore sector, the aquaculture industry, and commercial transport, ferry and Antarctic and Southern Ocean operators. “With extensive infrastructure and well-established supply chains, Tasmanian shipbuilders have the capability to construct the specialist ships, advanced watercraft and seaboats the ADF needs for the future” Rear Admiral (Rtd) Gilmore said.

The design, manufacture and fit-out of a range of vessels – from small specialised watercraft through to high-speed ferries over 120 metres long – takes place at a number of shipyards across Tasmania. Four shipyards are located at a maritime defence industry precinct 20 minutes north of the Hobart CBD and one shipyard is located just south of the city. In total, Tasmanian shipyards have over 79 500 square metres of undercover production hall space.

READ MORE

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‘The Sentinel’ is designed to penetrate the Military and Defence Force, as well as public security and emergency service organisations both domestically and internationally.

The Sentinel is the culmination of our research and development, experience, and relentless focus on the people who rely on our boats, over the last 25 years.

PFG has manufactured over one hundred boats in Hobart, including a number for Tasmania Police, also named the Sentinel, and commissioned by PFG in 2001.

The Sentinel is innovative and unique, being manufactured from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which has a significantly longer work life than aluminium alternatives and offers a safer, smoother experience.

The high-performance vessels are designed for demanding operations such as patrols, crew transfers, rescues, first responses and dive boat operations. The Sentinel has evolved from aquaculture work boats, still used by Tassal and Huon Aquaculture, to high performance National Security tactical watercrafts for maritime operations where reliability, high capability and mission availability are vital.

“We are Defence ready; we have the capability, we have the proven performance, we have the future technology that Defence needs. The Sentinel is a world class, proven Australian solution, and it’s built right here in Tasmania,” Chief Executive Officer of PFG, Rob Inches said.

The evolution of The Sentinel is shown in the video here.

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