Geelong was founded on the strength of its textiles, clothing and footwear industries, with the region’s long association with the wool industry driving the establishment of a number of success stories in wool and textile-related industries. Godfrey Hirst Australia, for example, is Australia’s largest carpet manufacturer and in the top 10 internationally, and is based in Geelong with more than 300 people employed locally.
Advanced fibres, including carbon fibre composites, are a significant emerging sector in the region.
Successful Geelong-based companies, including Carbon Revolution, Sykes Rowing and Quickstep, are leveraging the region’s traditional expertise in fibres into high value products and sectors, including aerospace, elite sports, prestige vehicles and defence.
GMC, as part of supporting manufacturing success in Geelong, initiated the Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong, with support from the Victorian Government from 2019-2021. The AFCG continues to deliver targeted support to a highly innovative group specialising in these future technologies. group of companies and organisations leveraging Geelong’s traditional expertise in fibres into higher value products and sectors.
Deakin University’s Carbon Nexus at Waurn Ponds, Geelong, is a globally unique, open-access carbon fibre/composite research facility, with world-leading capability in carbon fibre research and composite development.
Leading fibre and high value composite companies in the Geelong Manufacturing Council include: