The five-axis G 110TT HR100 C vertical gantry machine is going to the Naval Group in Osborne, South Australia, where it will be used to machine hull elements and other high-precision components for the Royal Australian Navy’s Attack class submarines.
The order for the machine comes after the Australian Government (Commonwealth of Australia) selected French company Naval Group to deliver a fleet of 12 regionally superior submarines, to be built in a modern construction yard in Osborne, South Australia.
The Future Submarine Program will deliver Australia a capability that can be built, operated and maintained with sovereignty, which maximises opportunities for Australian industry throughout all phases of the programme. The first of the Attack class submarines will be delivered in the early 2030s and continue into the early 2050s.
Starrag will deliver the machine from its Bielefeld plant in Germany, but is collaborating with Australian machine tool manufacturer H&H Machine Tools Australia to deliver this equipment. The company will manufacture key components, supply qualified personnel to help install the gantry and provide technical support for the entire life-cycle of the machine, securing an enduring role in servicing and maintenance in the future. Starrag will provide H&H with the necessary expertise through on-site training and quality control, transferring critical skills and sovereign ability to Australian industry.
The contract was awarded following a complex selection process. Noting its many years of experience and its extensive, not merely technical, expertise in handling large, complicated projects, the Starrag Group was an obvious selection for the contract. Not every machine supplier can manage an order of this magnitude from over 15,000 km away — but this is no problem for the Starrag Group, as Australian sales partner H&H will facilitate local work, ensuring that everything runs smoothly on-site. A previous project carried out in South Australia, for which Starrag supplied four machines for aircraft construction, shows a proven track record in this regard.
