Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC) CEO Robert Fuller joined NSW Member for Maitland Robyn Parker at a special event today to mark the 20th anniversary of Alstom’s Maitland Power Services workshop. Alstom's workshop is co-located with HVTC's Registered Training Organisation and Group Training Organisation Hunter-V-Tec and the company is an important HVTC client.
Over the 20 years of its existence, the Maitland workshop has grown from a local concern to developing an international reputation for excellence. It was started in 1991 to service local power and heavy industrial operations but is now being called on to maintain and construct major national and international power and heavy industry projects.
Along the way, through a partnership with Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC), more than a 100 local apprentices have been set up with a life-long career as they learned in-demand industrial skills from veterans with up to 50 years experience.
A number of apprentices have gone on to win HVTC apprentice of the year awards.
“We established this workshop in 1991 for two reasons: to service Australia’s power, rail and industrial sectors and to provide a stable training environment for Australian apprentices,” said Alstom Australia CEO Chris Raine.
“It is a reflection of the quality of our Hunter Valley employees, the culture of perfection they maintain and the pride they take in their work that this facility has developed an international reputation for excellence.”
The strong partnership between HVTC – which itself will celebrate its 30th birthday this year – has played a key role in sourcing and invigorating the experience of apprentices at the Alstom Power Service facility.
Every year HVTC supplements Alstom’s Maitland workforce, helping train and develop the regular intake of five to 10 apprentices.
"The partnership between the Hunter Valley Training Company and Alstom has provided tremendous benefit for all concerned,” said Milton Morris, Chairman, Hunter Valley Training Company.
“Many of our young apprentices have gone on to achieve great things and this is in no small part due to the unique set of skills and experiences they have gained through this partnership."
The workshop specialises in maintenance work on heavy rotating equipment, such as steam turbines and generators, which are integral to the operation of Australia’s power generation and industrial sectors. The workshop contains the largest lathe in the southern hemisphere serviced by two 60-tonne cranes, allowing it to repair massive steam turbines from Australia’s largest power stations.
Prior to the establishment of the workshop much of this equipment had to be sent overseas, leading to costly down time for Australian industry.
“By keeping the skills in Australia we can keep the lights on longer – it’s as simple as that,” said Mr Raine.
Alstom’s Maitland workshop has delivered on-site intallations, service and maintenance work for power stations across Australia including Eraring, Liddell, Hazelwood, Vales Point and Port Kembla and serviced contracts in Malaysia and Singapore. Its industrial customers include Caltex, Shell, and Incitec.
Visit: www.transport.alstom.com or www.alstom.com/australia