VIC manufacturer Premcar unveils advanced powertrain for global defence market

Celebrated for 25 years of innovation in automotive engineering, Victorian manufacturer Premcar is making headlines today as it ventures into the global defence sector with a revolutionary powertrain for land-based military vehicles.

Supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, Premcar launched a $1.53 million project aimed at revolutionising the powertrain of a military vehicle.

This initiative is set to modernise the drivetrain, enhancing its suitability for both local and international defence applications while paving the way for potential exports from Australia.

The comprehensive program required Premcar to design, engineer, install, and test an advanced drivetrain for an existing military vehicle.

According to the company, the new system needed to meet rigorous standards for quality, reliability, durability, and performance.

Starting with a rolling chassis, Premcar’s team, in collaboration with industrial partner Cummins, engineered new intake and exhaust systems, charge air cooling systems, engine mounts, lubrication systems, electrical wiring, engine control, cooling systems, and fuel systems.

The project also included total packaging and transmission calibration for the drivetrain.

Over less than two years, the Premcar team and Cummins not only met but exceeded expectations.

The project culminated in a successful field trial at the Australian Automotive Research Centre in Victoria, demonstrating the advanced capabilities of the new drivetrain.

Bernard Quinn, CEO of Premcar, emphasised the significance of the project: “Programs like the defence powertrain project are transformative for manufacturing and engineering businesses like Premcar.”

“It is one thing to be trusted with consumer products and another to work alongside the defence industry to deliver something as critical as a drivetrain.”

He added, “As a result of the AMGC project, we are now a diversified business operating in the defence sector, employing more staff and equipped to pursue opportunities in the rail and road infrastructure sectors, thanks to the skills and certifications gained along the way.”

The project also created six new positions and upskilled 11 existing staff members at Premcar’s headquarters.

The successful certification and testing of the drivetrain have opened doors for potential defence vehicle exports, with other nations considering the vehicle for their use.

Jens Goennemann, managing director of AMGC, praised Premcar’s achievements: “Capability and diversity are the keys to manufacturing success in Australia and Premcar excels at both. By taking the knowledge they have built over a quarter century in the automotive industry and applying it to the defence industry, Australia ends up with a more resilient manufacturer and a better product for defence – it is a win-win.”

He added, “Premcar shows that if you view manufacturing through a capability lens, then anything is possible, with knowledge, skills and expertise the bridge to greater sovereign capability, capacity, and prosperity.”