PACCAR gets Hall of Fame Award

PACCAR Australia was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2012 and this is the third time the company has been recognised with a training award by the Victorian Government.

“It is gratifying to be recognised by the government for our work in manufacturing and skills development. We are immensely proud of our long history of manufacturing Kenworth trucks in Australia and the work we are undertaking to secure our position as the pre-eminent truck manufacturer in the country with a highly skilled workforce,” said Andrew Hadjikakou, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia.

This Award recognises the investment undertaken by PACCAR Australia in skills development of its employees, suppliers and dealer network associated with the design, launch, manufacture and support of the Kenworth T610. The Manufacturing Hall of Fame also recognised PACCAR Australia’s recent milestone achievement of having manufactured 60,000 Kenworth trucks in Australia.

PACCAR Australia employs more than 1100 people directly, and many thousands more through its dealer and supplier networks. Its supply chain includes approximately 70 major Australian suppliers located across the country, with many of those being locally-owned companies located in the Melbourne region. Depending on the model and specification, a Kenworth truck comprises around 60 per cent Australian-owned resources.

Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, Andrew Hadjkakou observed: “Manufacturing has grown for 15 consecutive months in Victoria and we are so proud to be part of that progress.

“Production of Kenworth trucks continues to increase and, with our announcement at the end of last year that assembly of DAFs will commence in the third quarter at our Bayswater Production Facility, we are optimistic this will contribute to further growth in the state, and the country.”

“The success of the Kenworth range in Australia is due to the company’s commitment to offer products that are designed and manufactured in Australia, with ongoing capital investment from PACCAR Inc. in the form of product research, design and manufacturing technology.

The Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, established in 2001, showcases and recognises the breadth and depth of companies and individuals involved in manufacturing and innovation within Victoria.

The Minister for Industry and Employment the Hon Ben Carroll hosted the event for more than 1000 manufacturing industry attendees on May 28 in Melbourne. He reported manufacturing in Victoria is experiencing a growth and resurgence at a level not seen for nearly 15 years. He stated Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes $27.7 billion to the Victorian economy, with more than 13,000 businesses employing more than 286,000 people.