Hall of fame honour for top suppliers

AUTOMOTIVE component suppliers Futuris Automotive and Backwell IXL were recently inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

The two companies were among 10 inductees announced at a gala function in Melbourne by Victorian manufacturing, exports and trade minister Richard Dalla-Riva.

“Victoria’s manufacturing sector is a major contributor to the economy and community, providing more than $30 billion in gross state product, employing over 300,000 people and, at the aggregate level, continuing to be Victoria’s lead export sector,” Mr Dalla-Riva said.

“The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame celebrates the heroes of Victoria’s manufacturing sector – those companies and individuals who are leaders in their field, locally and internationally, and who have a great story of success to share with us.”He later told the Victorian parliament that the Liberal state government “recognise the importance of Victoria's culture of success, hard work, ingenuity and innovation, and we will do everything we can to continue supporting the manufacturing sector in Victoria”.

Port Melbourne-based Futuris Automotive Interiors (Australia) is one of the country’s leading automotive components manufacturers, responsible for the design and manufacturer of auto seating and interior trim for major customers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Chery, JAC, Daimler and Tesla Motors.

It is also a partner of the EV Engineering consortium that is currently building an all-electric version of the Holden Commodore.

Established in 1858, Geelong-based Backwell IXL is described as one of the oldest privately owned manufacturing businesses in Australia held in the one family.

It produces a wide range of pressed and roll-formed metal components and sub-assemblies, including noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) products, for the automotive industry.

Both companies have previously received top industry awards. Most recently, Backwell IXL was a finalist in the 2010 Supplier of the Year announced in January by the Australian car industry’s peak body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Last September, Futuris was a silver award winner at the Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia (SAE-A) Automotive Engineering Excellence Awards, having been recognised for its use of 3D knitted composite structures for lightweight automotive interior products.