Wheelie good opportunity

A REDLYNCH business that invented a wheel safety device could benefit from a multibilliondollar defence contract. Far North company Redcat Industries supplies Rheinmetall Defence Australia, a company representing a German corporation that announced it would be based in Queensland if it won the Land 400 Phase 2 contract to supply armoured vehicles. Redcat Industries director Ron Mason said it was a “massive” opportunity.

A REDLYNCH business that invented a wheel safety device used in fleets across the globe could benefit from a multibillion-dollar defence contract.

Far North company Redcat Industries supplies Rheinmetall Defence Australia, a company representing a German technology corporation that announced it would be based in Queensland if successful with the Land 400 Phase 2 contract to supply the country’s new armoured vehicles.

Rheinmetall is up against BAE Systems Australia for the $5 billion contract, which will be announced in the first quarter of next year.

Redcat Industries director Ron Mason said it was a “massive” opportunity for his business and the Far North economy.

“With the patents already sitting there, we are looking really good,” he said.

“It means we will employ more staff, may even consider moving our manufacturing to Cairns.”

Rheinmetall Defence Australia will establish its Australia-New Zealand headquarters and a military vehicle centre of excellence if it wins the contract to deliver 225 combat reconnaissance vehicles for the Australian Army.

It is expected to create 250 new jobs in Queensland if the company wins the contract.

Redcat Industries has operated out of a 3ha block at Redlynch for more than 20 years.

The company supplies wheel safety indicators and locks to council fleets, garbage trucks, fuel trucks and mining vehicles across the globe.

Manufacturing is based at Meadowbrook in Brisbane.

Mr Mason has years of experience in the mining, transport, military and aviation fleets.

He said there were about 125 billion wheel nuts worldwide and estimated almost half of vehicles faced wheel problems with loosening nuts.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that it is an issue,” he said

“It makes it a hugely expensive proposition if that happens in a vehicle. It can dramatically damage your fleet reputation. For instance it can kill somebody.

“Our product simply sits on the wheel nuts and indicates as soon as the wheel starts loosening off that you have got a problem then locks the nuts.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Rheinmetall announcement was a testament to the skills and capability of companies like Redcat.