07 May 2013 Thales group

Australian Munitions and US distributor Hodgdon Powder Company have celebrated a highly successful 25-year partnership at an event at the propellant manufacturing facility in Mulwala, NSW.

Australian Munitions’ civil propellants have built up a sizeable following in the US sporting shooter market following many years of effective promotion and support by Kansas-based Hodgdon. The clean-burning propellants from Australian Munitions account for a significant share of the US reloading market and are favoured by consumers for their Ballistic Temperature Independence – a characteristic achieved through a unique formulation that delivers performance consistency across a wide range of temperatures.

A significant proportion of Mulwala’s 450-strong workforce is engaged in supplying propellant to the US – a valuable contribution to long-term employment in regional NSW.

After an initial agreement in 1985, the first shipment of propellant was sent from Mulwala to Hodgdon in 1988. Since then, around seven million kilograms of propellant have been exported to the US market, with exports increasing significantly over the past five years.

Kevin Wall, Vice President of Thales Australia’s Armaments business and head of Australian Munitions, said: "For a quarter of a century we have been building an export business that is an Australian manufacturing success story. Our propellants have attracted widespread recognition among US sporting shooters and, working with Hodgdon, we will continue to introduce new products and grow in this very competitive market."

Tom Shepherd, President and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company, said: "These excellent powders from Mulwala have been a big hit in the US, and we continue to sell increasing amounts. It’s been a great relationship between the two companies over 25 years – we’ve come a long way, and are looking forward to even more success in the future. The whole team in Mulwala should be proud of themselves because these are great products, and our customers keep coming back for more."

About Australian Munitions

Australian Munitions is the largest supplier of explosive ordnance to the Australian Defence Force, with a successful track record delivering ammunition, propellants, explosives and related services. Australian Munitions produces high quality propellant and ammunition for military and civilian domestic and international customers, and is also a principal supplier of small arms ammunition to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Australian Munitions is part of Thales’s global network of explosive ordnance expertise, which includes Thales Advanced Weapon Systems, Thales Missile Electronics, Junghans Microtec, TDA Armements and Forges de Zeebrugge (FZ). It has also formed strategic partnerships with renowned world-class companies: US-based General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Norway’s Nammo and Winchester Australia.

About Thales

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2012, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion (equivalent of AUD 17.6 billion) with 67,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.

Thales Australia is a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing around 3,300 people in over 35 sites across the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues of AUD 1 billion in 2012.