The company that is set to establish its Australian production base in Dubbo, bringing potentially hundreds of jobs to the city, has repeated its intention to open its local doors “later in 2010”.
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Southern Cross Printed Electronics (SCPE) senior figures say they remain committed to Dubbo, but they were unable to provide specific details on exactly when it would begin production in the city or from what premises.
Instead they brought to Dubbo yesterday the flashy product with which they aim to revolutionise electronics.
SCPE executives Simon Smith and Peter Simons took time out to show the Daily Liberal applications of the printed electronics product before it sought to wow its Dubbo investors yesterday.
The company, which first investigated Dubbo under the name STOTA International, aimed to send its products from warehouse to everyday Dubbo shops, Mr Smith said.
“We want to use Dubbo as the test area so people in Dubbo can say, ‘that’s Southern Cross Printed Electronics, we’ve heard of them’,” Mr Smith said.
SCPE had announced it would establish its Dubbo base in the first quarter of 2010, but in December that date was revised.
When asked if there was any update on when their production centre would open in Dubbo, Mr Smith kept on May’s message.
“We’re still on track for later in 2010,” Mr Smith said.
“We’re certainly very hopeful it will be later this year.
“We would have liked to be here earlier but it’s a big decision (to begin production), we want all our ducks in a row.”
As for sites, the company still has a “shortlist”.
“We’re continuing to talk to Dubbo people and Dubbo City Council to make sure the processes are in place,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Simons was also in Dubbo the day that Gowest chairman John Walkom revealed the company was considering the city for its Asia Pacific manufacturing and distribution base in June 2009.
“(Our) commitment to Dubbo is as strong as ever,” he said yesterday.
“We think we can do something special for Dubbo and
it can do something special for us.”
In July last year Mr Walkom reported STOTA International was hoping to make an announcement about an interim site in the coming weeks for their revolutionary business.
Then in September NSW regional development minister Phillip Costa announced the company would head to
Dubbo after the Government secured the manufacturing facility for Dubbo by offsetting the company’s establishment costs.
