Progress News

Value Adding Opportunities in Aluminium Industry

4th February, 2005

GEIDB & PELM Centre to investigate aluminium industry value adding opportunities for the Gladstone Region

The Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board (GEIDB) has contracted Professor Warren Thorpe, Director, CQU Process Engineering and Light Metals (PELM) Centre at Gladstone to carry out a research project titled, Aluminium Industry Value Adding Opportunities for the Gladstone Region.

The research will be done during the first half of 2005 and will investigate possible new business development opportunities in the region. The work links directly to the Board’s targeted investment attraction activities and global marketing plan and the Queensland Government’s focus on light metals and manufacturing. The research targets are likely to be niche manufacturing opportunities.

The aluminium industry sector production represents some 25% by volume of bulk exports from the Gladstone Region with a high value of over $2 billion per annum. Potential aluminium component manufacture in the region is seen as a key opportunity, not only because of the increased contribution to gross product value but also because of the increased number of jobs created by manufacturing enterprises.

The fundamental research is due for completion by July 2005.

Further information about the GEIDB can be found at the PELM Centre at www.gladstone.cqu.edu.au/pelm