AS MANY as 40 people, many of them former employees, will start work at the ACL Bearing Company in coming months as it reboots production of its high-performance vehicle parts. Experiencing a turbulent few years, the 65-year-old Launceston company decided to close its doors in July last year. However, the quality workmanship of its niche products that are highly sought after in the North American market, saw ACL Distribution in Michigan, US, buy the assets, intellectual property and plant equipment of the local company in September. A skeleton workforce has been employed since then to see the establishment of a manufacturing factory in the old premises. The company's Australian general manager Chris Brooks said the sale and eventual re-opening of the business was market-driven, but was also based on its very good reputation for its mainly after-market products for high-performance and racing cars such as V8 Supercars. "The assets were actually acquired in September of last year and there's been a lot of work in redeveloping the site here, and with layouts and production readiness trials and so on to make sure the equipment is ready to go," Mr Brooks said. While about 15 people are employed now, Mr Brooks said he expected to create about 40 jobs by the end of the year and possibly more in the future as the brand grew internationally. "Plant layout, improvements and equipment trials have been conducted in recent weeks as part of the production readiness process," he said. "We expect to be in a position to commence volume production across all areas within the next two to three weeks." He said they would start with a modest level of production that was much smaller and niche-focused, as opposed to the large volume of product previously supplied nationally. Mr Brooks said this was really a reflection of where ACL and other Australian motoring part companies had to turn to continue in the motoring industry, particularly in light of the significant downturn in the national market. Mr Brooks said about 90 per cent of their product would be exported, with North America their largest market, followed by Europe and south-east Asia and then domestic clients. Bass Liberal MHA Michael Ferguson welcomed the company's optimism for the employment of about 40 individuals back into the Northern economy.
AS MANY as 40 people, many of them former employees, will start work at the ACL Bearing Company in coming months as it reboots production of its high-performance vehicle parts.
Experiencing a turbulent few years, the 65-year-old Launceston company decided to close its doors in July last year.
However, the quality workmanship of its niche products that are highly sought after in the North American market, saw ACL Distribution in Michigan, US, buy the assets, intellectual property and plant equipment of the local company in September.
A skeleton workforce has been employed since then to see the establishment of a manufacturing factory in the old premises.
The company's Australian general manager Chris Brooks said the sale and eventual re-opening of the business was market-driven, but was also based on its very good reputation for its mainly after-market products for high-performance and racing cars such as V8 Supercars.
"The assets were actually acquired in September of last year and there's been a lot of work in redeveloping the site here, and with layouts and production readiness trials and so on to make sure the equipment is ready to go," Mr Brooks said.
While about 15 people are employed now, Mr Brooks said he expected to create about 40 jobs by the end of the year and possibly more in the future as the brand grew internationally.
"Plant layout, improvements and equipment trials have been conducted in recent weeks as part of the production readiness process," he said.
"We expect to be in a position to commence volume production across all areas within the next two to three weeks."
He said they would start with a modest level of production that was much smaller and niche-focused, as opposed to the large volume of product previously supplied nationally.
Mr Brooks said this was really a reflection of where ACL and other Australian motoring part companies had to turn to continue in the motoring industry, particularly in light of the significant downturn in the national market.
Mr Brooks said about 90 per cent of their product would be exported, with North America their largest market, followed by Europe and south-east Asia and then domestic clients.
Bass Liberal MHA Michael Ferguson welcomed the company's optimism for the employment of about 40 individuals back into the Northern economy.
