South Australian engineering and precision machining company Verseng Group continues to build its export capacity in the international defence market, as it gears up to supply a new generation of military aircraft loaders.

The Elizabeth-based company, one of the few ground-support equipment manufacturers in Australia, is in the final stages of the design and manufacture of four TALU aircraft loaders, to be exported to Qatar Air Force in the coming weeks. 

The new equipment is designed to load and unload military aircrafts and payloads, and can carry up to five military pallets.

Verseng Group business manager Melissa Parr said the project, which has created new jobs and supported a number of South Australian supply chain businesses, strengthens the company’s reputation as a leader in the ground-support equipment market.

“The ground support equipment market is something we have the capability for and delivering this contract proves that capability,” Ms Parr said. 

“We also manufacture and export scissor assemblies to a United States-based ground support equipment company and are in discussions regarding ongoing supply agreements.

“While we have many arms to the business, Defence is an important market for Verseng Group and contributes up to 15 per cent of our annual turnover.”

Verseng Group re-launched in July last year, after undergoing a restructure to incorporate Adelaide City Engineering and Broens SA, which extended the capability of the business to provide services to a broad range of industries such as defence, marine, mining and rail.

Ms Parr said the company is a supplier to the Collins class submarine sustainment program and is eyeing opportunities on LAND 400 and upcoming naval shipbuilding projects.

“In the last 12 months, we’ve really established ourselves as a serious player in the Defence sector,” she said.  

“We’ve maintained our traditional markets, but we’ve also had a stronger focus in Defence and ground support equipment.  

“Since our restructure, we’ve made some good in-roads speaking to various primes about potential opportunities on defence programs.”