Mett named 2010 Supplier of the Year

VICTORIAN aluminium castings supplier Mett Pty Ltd was recently named 2010 Supplier of the Year by the Australian car industry’s peak body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

The nation’s top supplier gong came after Mett won its sixth global General Motors Supplier of the Year award in March last year. It was also a finalist in the Australian awards in 2008.

Mett was established in 1983 and maintains a state-of-the-art high-pressure aluminium diecasting facility at Noble Park in Melbourne’s outer-east. It employs more than 220 people at the facility, which provides for precision and high-speed CNC (computer numerical control) machining, product assembly and testing.

FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar described the Australian awards, which were instigated by local vehicle manufacturers, as “recognition of the vital importance of competitive, innovative and world-class suppliers to the Australian automotive industry.”“It is a credit to Mett Pty Ltd that they have been able to meet and even exceed the high expectations of the vehicle manufacturers during a challenging period for the automotive industry,” he said.

“Congratulations go to the team at Mett Pty Ltd as well as the other four finalists, who also demonstrated outstanding achievements,” Mr McKellar said.

The other finalists were Australian Arrow, Backwell IXL, Continental and Hirotec Australia.

Australian Arrow was incorporated in 1996 and produces a wide range of electrical equipment, including wiring harnesses, electrical distribution systems and body electronic control modules.

Almost 250 people are employed at its Australian facilities in Victoria and South Australia and the company was awarded Toyota Australia’s Supplier of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009.

Backwell IXL has been manufacturing in Australia for more than 150 years and for the past 20 years has been a tier one supplier to the automotive industry.

From its manufacturing plant in Geelong, Victoria, it supplies a range of pressed metal and sub assemblies including engine and exhaust heat shields, armrest support and bumper brackets.

Continental is a multinational component supplier that has operated in Australia for more than 50 years. It employs more than 300 people across two manufacturing facilities in Melbourne, producing a range of products including instrument clusters, electronic entry systems, multimedia and navigation systems as well as climate control systems.

Hirotec Australia was formed in 2006 and employs more than 100 people at its manufacturing facility at Elizabeth West, South Australia.

Primarily supplying Holden, Hirotec provides stamping and assembly for a range of automotive components including doors, hoods, deck lids and lift-gates.

Last year’s winner was Sumitomo Australia Group, ahead of finalists Frontline and MtM. In 2008, Denso Australia Group took the main prize, ahead of Mett, Arrow, Autoliv Australia and Continental.