Upgraded.
April 19, 2020 16: 39:20
Almost 30 years ago, Sydney-based company Almec developed parts for the video gaming industry.
A years later on it built smart phone antennas for Telstra– before that work relocated to China.
Then the factory turned to lighting and small construction supply, up until– you thought it– the majority of that went offshore too.
Today Almec, a “bespoke” sheet metal fabrication service, is focused on “filling the gaps in the market” in medical and structure supplies– shorthand for whatever work it can discover.
This is small-scale manufacturing in 2020 Australia, and according to the company chief executive Lil Taylor, it is effort.
” The only method to make it through is to keep diversifying,” stated Ms Taylor, who took control of the household service from her father.
” Just recently we had a point where it was a bit slow, and my papa walked down the roadway to the Costco grocery store that was getting developed and said, ‘we’re a sheet metal company around the corner, can we supply to you?’
” And we got company out of it.
” We’re not shrinking, and today sales are as good as this time last year, but capital is tough. [It’s] hard to keep the doors open.”
The coronavirus crisis has