Wood Tech plans PPE manufacturing boost with $12m Rogers Industries acquisition

Manufacturer The Wood Tech Group will strengthen its diversification into personal protective equipment (PPE) with the $12 million acquisition of Rogers Industries, an industry leader in plastic injection moulding and aluminum die casting services.

Both companies are based on Brisbane's southside, with the transaction also including the transfer of 17,000 square metres of land near the Port of Brisbane to be redeveloped as Wood Tech's new headquarters including a technology and innovation centre where inventors, designers and engineers will be invited to collaborate.

The group plans to invest $3 million in the 2,500sqm purpose-built office, plus a $1.5 million investment in new ISO cleanrooms, automated production lines and a quality testing facility for face masks and other PPE.

While Wood Tech is known as a national supplier of woodworking, stone and glass processing equipment, last year it launched a PPE Tech division to locally manufacture millions of P2 face masks for industry and government.

The acquisition of Rogers Industries’ plastics division will soon allow new product development into face shields, helmets, hard hats and safety glasses.

"The move to acquire and integrate the Rogers business into the broader Wood Tech Group is an investment and confidence in local manufacturing, right here in Brisbane," says the group's managing director Ron Smyth.

"The existing Rogers’ business will expand with further investment, plus our new in-house capabilities will complement existing business units, with machinery spare parts manufactured locally, plus expansion of Australian PPE production.

"Our message to Australian companies is clear: if you’re looking to reshore your manufacturing, speak to us. Our technology investment makes it viable for you to provide Australian made products to your customers."

The business is expected to announce multiple new positions over the next six months at its Brisbane-based headquarters.

Employees currently operate from five sites including Mansfield (QLD), Wetherill Park (NSW), Derrimut (VIC), Edwardstown (SA) and Gnangara (WA), with Wood Tech emphasising all existing sites will continue to operate locally.