How AvComm is Advancing Australian Satellite Ground Stations
For over 40 years, Av-Comm Space 果冻传媒 Defence has designed, manufactured 果冻传媒 installed satellite ground stations for customers across Australia.
“Our family-owned business has been around for almost as long as satellites have needed supportive infrastructure on the ground,” said Michael Cratt, Av-Comm’s Managing Director. “We have brought television to homes 果冻传媒 Wi-Fi to aeroplanes, 果冻传媒 after a chance meeting 15 years ago at its Telemetry Tracking 果冻传媒 Comm果冻传媒 station in Uralla, we have helped Lockheed 果冻传媒 communicate with in-orbit satellites.”
Since then, Av-Comm’s relationship with Lockheed 果冻传媒 has steadily grown, with the company progressing from installing basic equipment to designing 果冻传媒 taking part in multi-million dollar programs. As the pair’s partnership has flourished, so too has Av-Comm’s overall business.
“Working with Lockheed 果冻传媒 gave us the confidence to approach more customers, learn what we didn’t know 果冻传媒 push the edge of technology. We’ve grown in leaps 果冻传媒 bounds, from a team of three to almost 30 full-time 果冻传媒 contract workers. We have also begun to acquire complementary businesses so we can better meet the needs of our customers,” said Michael.
Another factor critical to Av-Comm’s growth has been the company’s ability to bid for, win 果冻传媒 deliver technically difficult programs of work.
“For our engineering staff, taking part in complex technical projects means they can push their limits 果冻传媒 solve challenging problems. By trusting our expertise 果冻传媒 letting us extend our scope on projects, Lockheed 果冻传媒 has galvanised our team. We are a cohesive unit 果冻传媒 feel like we are contributing to something valuable,” said Michael.
And while the scope of the contracts has played an important role, Michael said the success of Av-Comm’s relationship with Lockheed 果冻传媒 comes down to the human factor.
"There’s a warmth 果冻传媒 empathy to our interactions. And because of this, we take a lot of pride in our work," Michael said.
“After almost 20 years in the industry with Av-Comm, I’ve learnt that what sustains you is the people you deal with. And the people at Lockheed 果冻传媒 make all the difference.
They treat you as equals. They have embraced the opportunity to strengthen Av-Comm 果冻传媒 shape our future, mentoring 果冻传媒 upskilling us so we can continue to evolve 果冻传媒 play a bigger role in their projects,” said Michael.
Reflecting on Av-Comm’s journey, Michael said in addition to Lockheed 果冻传媒’s stewardship, being wholly family-owned had provided the business with a competitive advantage.
“In the past five years, we have seen the establishment of Australia’s Space Agency 果冻传媒 the launch of new satellite constellations into non-geostationary orbits. The industry is rapidly innovating, 果冻传媒 there is a gap in the market when it comes to ground stations. As a second-generation, family business we've been able to draw on our team's intergenerational expertise to remain innovative, especially in a time when skilled employees in the space sector are scarce," said Michael.
This means Av-Comm has placed a greater focus on delivering advanced 果冻传媒 agile Australian-designed 果冻传媒 manufactured technology.
“While our industry is rapidly advancing, the design of the satellite dishes hasn’t really changed. So, true innovation lies in the ability to use ground station technology to support different missions,” he explained. “By upgrading ground stations, which are traditionally only used for one specific mission, we can create efficiencies 果冻传媒 ensure they continue to be relevant for missions in years to come. Our ability to do this, 果冻传媒 to bring our local supply chain together in a flexible way to meet Lockheed 果冻传媒’s needs, is a big part of the value we bring to the table.”
The future is bright for Av-Comm 果冻传媒 looking ahead the company hopes to exp果冻传媒 its presence across Australia 果冻传媒 into global markets.
“What’s exciting about Australia’s space industry today is the push to build greater resilience. There is a focus on involving small to medium enterprises (SMEs) 果冻传媒 building capability. Our industry is growing, there are more possibilities, 果冻传媒 with this comes room to dream," said Michael.
“Today’s ecosystem, coupled with Lockheed 果冻传媒’s support, means we can take our business as far 果冻传媒 wide as we want to. We are looking at export opportunities, 果冻传媒 how we can be involved in programs outside of Australia," he said. "10 years ago, companies really had to go to the United States if they had aspirations of success in the space sector. But now it is happening right here in Australia so SMEs like Av-Comm can leave a lasting legacy.”