Taree boat manufacturer Stebercraft International has continued a strong year of growth, with job creation forecasts for 2018 already exceeded.
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The business has welcomed nine new staff members in the past six months including six shipwright apprentices.
Stebercraft International general manager Alan Steber said the business has come a long way from humble beginnings in the 1940s to the international and domestic boating industry powerhouse it is today.
“We’re extremely proud,” Mr Steber said.
Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said the progress was an example of the changing landscape of trades and skills across the country.
“It’s great they’ve taken on these apprentices because we really need to re-skill our nation,” Dr Gillespie said.
“It’s the clever skills where we need to compete on an international level.”
The announcement coincided with the official opening of building extensions for the Taree factory’s engineering department.
Funded by Stebercraft and the Federal Government’s North Coast Jobs and Investment package, the project also included the manufacture of a 60-foot steel production cradle and a 60 foot vessel deck tooling as well as the purchase of a new plant, equipment and an upgrade to manufacturing software.
This has allowed for the production of stainless steel and aluminum components at the factory instead of outsourcing from metropolitan areas.
Dr Gillespie was hopeful other businesses will help craft a modernised manufacturing renaissance in the area.
It’s great they’ve taken on these apprentices because we really need to re-skill our nation.
- Dr David Gillespie, Member for Lyne
“I’m hopeful Taree and the Manning can get more manufacturing that is smart, clever and boutique like Stebercraft,” Dr Gillespie said.
Stebercraft is working on the third of five new vessels to support the Royal Australian Navy’s new mine countermeasure capability. A fisheries research vessel for the Mauritius government is also in development.
“We’re building our first 60 footer. It’s a big milestone for us which means we’re going to have bigger fuel tanks, bigger engineering, bigger equipment and modern equipment,” Mr Steber said.
