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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-14 Daily Xml
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SAGE Automation

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister update the chamber on SAGE's decision to move to the Tonsley innovation precinct?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question. SAGE Automation is one of the shining lights of the South Australian advanced manufacturing sector. Founded in 1994 by managing director Andrew Downs in his backyard shed, the company has grown significantly since then thanks to cutting-edge innovation and, with the support of the state government, has recently moved into its new, purpose-built facility at the Tonsley innovation precinct.

This impressive, custom-designed facility under the main assembly building will be a great fit for the company and a great fit for Tonsley, providing a local headquarters and boosting its ability to undertake advanced manufacturing. SAGE's purpose-built 3,100 square metre facility will house 120 staff, its head office, its national marketing facility, and the company's three main divisions. I understand the move to Tonsley has enabled SAGE to transform its advanced manufacturing facility and achieve Industry 4.0 classification through a range of technological improvements.

SAGE Automation's presence at the precinct will only strengthen the critical mass of innovation at Tonsley. The company's new neighbours include some of the world's fastest-growing and most innovative companies in industries that are growing just as quickly, companies and leading education research centres like Siemens, Signostics, Micro-X, Innovyz, Simulation Australia, ZEN Energy and, of course, Flinders University. These occupants are continuing a long tradition of innovation on this site. A wealth of collaboration is being ignited at Tonsley by the co-location of some of our most innovative companies and researchers, particularly those linked to institutions like Flinders University.

SAGE is now the nation's largest independent industrial control systems integrator, with 10 offices nationally, three in India, and around 220 staff in total. The company counts blue-chip businesses amongst many of its clients. SAGE Automation is a South Australian success story that has a multimillion dollar turnover and a growing presence on the world stage with a string of awards to its name, including coming in at No. 52 on the South Australian Business Index. Pleasingly, the company is also having success in the defence sector this year, through its partnership with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, securing a $2.8 million contract to manufacture and supply control systems for two ships being built for the Royal Australian Navy.

The state government's Automotive Supplier Diversification Program has been supporting South Australian automotive supply businesses like SAGE to diversify, and a grant of $500,000 from that program has helped SAGE take its business to the next level. SAGE Automation is an outstanding example of what the future looks like in this state, a South Australian-based global company employing local people to develop and export high-tech solutions and applications to the world. This will be a valuable addition, the world-class company choosing to locate its operations at our world-class Tonsley innovation precinct.

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