NEWS

GOVERNOR OF WA OPENS MATRIX’S EXPANDED HENDERSON FACILITY

01 Aug 2019

Matrix Composites & Engineering Ltd (ASX:MCE, “Matrix” or the “Company”) has welcomed The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, to officially open the Company’s expanded Henderson facility.

Matrix has invested $2.2 million to upgrade its Henderson facility over the past 18 months through the construction of a new large composite workshop and installation of a roto moulding & machine.

During a tour of Matrix’s facility, Governor Beazley unveiled two plaques to mark the official opening of the workshop and commissioning of the roto moulding machine. Governor Beazley also visited Matrix’s hydrostatic testing area, which is used to simulate deepwater environments down to 5,300 metres and has growing applications in the defence & sector.

At the event, Matrix Chief Executive Officer Aaron Begley said the new investments would enable Matrix to build further momentum in its expansion into new markets.

“It is only through continuous investment and innovation over 40 years that Matrix has been able to build its position as a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of advanced composite materials and technologies based right here in WA,” Mr Begley said.

“Our 20,000m2 composite manufacturing facility in Henderson, where we currently employ close to 140 people, is the only facility of its kind in Australasia and exports cutting edge products primarily to global oil and gas markets.

“With these new investments, we can build on that position and also continue our push into adjacent growth markets such as transportation, civil and infrastructure, and defence being targeted under our diversification strategy.”

At 1,700m2, the new composites workshop will enable Matrix to undertake repair of corroded structures, reduce the weight of subsea structures, decrease maintenance requirements by reducing materials susceptible to corrosion, and allow Matrix to design more organic shapes rather than standard angular geometric profiles.

These new capabilities will have applications in defence (e.g. submarine fins, ship masts, acoustic windows), oil and gas composite structures, and in transport where composites can displace heavier metals such as steel, increasing payloads and fuel efficiency.

The roto moulding machine is the largest of its kind in WA. The high production, fully automated, four-arm machine will be used to develop arched structures, including the manufacture of ground water management structures for civil applications and LGS^® shroud covers on underwater pipelines for subsea oil and gas applications.

Matrix will be able to target new industries with this machine installed, and has started using the roto moulding machine to produce the unique Tunnelwell^® arch stormwater systems being produced under a five-year manufacturing partnership agreement.

Meanwhile, Matrix’s hydrostatic chamber – believed to be the largest in the southern hemisphere – has been used for years to simulate deepwater environments for Matrix-manufactured oil and gas products.

It is now being expanded to other business areas, including oil and gas customers that are looking to test their own systems as well as applications in the defence sector.

LGS is a registered trademark of AMOG Technologies Pty Ltd.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Corporate
Tracy McLean Smith
Marketing Communications Manager
Ph: +61 8 9412 1200
Email: tracy.mcleansmith@matrixengineered.com

Media
Adrian Watson
FTI Consulting
Ph: +61 8 9321 8533
Email: adrian.watson@fticonsulting.com

ABOUT MATRIX COMPOSITES & ENGINEERING

Matrix Composites & Engineering specialises in the design, engineering and manufacture of composite and advanced material technology solutions for the oil and gas, civil and infrastructure, resources, defence, and transportation industries. With more than 40 years-experience, Matrix has gained a reputation as an industry leader and has become a major exporter of Australian goods and services with customers located all over the world. From its award-winning head office in Australia and offices in the United states, and a global network, Matrix is uniquely positioned to deliver complete turnkey solutions offerings with localised customer support.
More information can be found at www.matrixengineered.com