Capral Aluminium joins Australian Made Campaign

Capral Aluminium has been positioned at the forefront of Australia’s aluminium production industry for nearly 90 years.

Initially established as British Aluminium Australia in 1936, the company has undergone a myriad of transformations throughout its operations (a mixture of factory openings, brand changes and acquisitions) until it settled on the Capral Aluminium name in 1995.

The company’s national presence now hosts an impressive range of aluminium extrusion applications which service a large and loyal customer base according to Capral Aluminium Industrial Division General Manager, Luke Hawkins.

“We produce many types of aluminium extrusions for a variety of industries,” he says. “This includes Australia’s architectural sector, defence, housing, science and medical equipment, and transport where we supply aluminium to many original equipment manufacturers.

“As part of servicing these industries, we have the capacity to produce roughly 65,000 tonnes of aluminium extrusion domestically each year. That makes us the largest producer in the whole sector.”

Capral’s mammoth production scale includes eight extrusion presses located across six manufacturing sites in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Beyond extrusion, Capral has an extensive distribution network with trade centres and branches spread nationwide. According to Luke, this national footprint ensures timely supply to customers while reinforcing the importance of supporting Australian-made aluminium products.

Due to the current global trade environment, Luke says buying Australian-made aluminium extrusion has never been more critical. This is why Capral has aligned itself with the Australian Made Campaign.

“The imposition of tariffs on Australian aluminium exports to the United States presents significant challenges for local producers,” he says. “Trade flows could be disrupted, and the risk of foreign aluminium – potentially produced under unfair trade conditions – being dumped into the Australian market is higher than ever.

“Dumped aluminium, sold in Australia at artificially low prices due to government subsidies or excess production overseas, threatens the viability of local manufacturers. It can lead to unfair competition, job losses and a decline in domestic industry standards.

“Choosing Australian-made aluminium ensures that businesses and consumers are supporting responsibly produced, high-quality materials while safeguarding Australia’s manufacturing future.”

The Australian Made Campaign was founded in 1986 by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with participation from Australia’s network of state and territory chambers of commerce as well as cooperation from the Federal Government. The campaign’s express purpose is to promote and support locally manufactured products through recognition, helping consumers to identify and choose Australian-made goods.

The Australian Made Campaign’s iconic logo, the golden kangaroo silhouette in a green triangle, serves as the ultimate stamp of formal recognition for a product’s domestic manufacturing. By running a comprehensive domestic supply chain, Capral has received its own stamp and membership. This has become a major source of pride throughout the company.

Capral Aluminium CEO, Tony Dragicevich, is particularly enthusiastic about the company’s future following its induction into the campaign.

“Joining the Australian Made Campaign is an exciting step for Capral,” he says. “The logo is widely recognised for carrying a strong message about supporting local industry. We are proud to display it on our Australian-made aluminium products.”

These sentiments are echoed by Luke who stresses the particular importance of local manufacturing amid current economic uncertainty on the world stage.

“There is no doubt that we need to recognise Australia’s own domestic capabilities, particularly in light of the current state of global trade,” he says. “Tariffs from the United States and escalating pressures elsewhere are putting lots of strain on the economy.

“This is where Australia needs to look towards its own production powers. We don’t need to rely on imports. What we need is a fair go against these powers and their effects.”

This recognition of Capral as a high-quality Australian manufacturer has not just been celebrated by the company itself but also by many of its customers which place high value on domestic production. Among these customers is trailer manufacturer, Freighter Group, whose history in the Australian market mirrors much of Capral’s own journey.

As one of Australia’s longest-standing trailer manufacturers, Freighter Group has been relying on Capral’s aluminium for over 20 years.

“Capral has been a key supplier to our product range for a very long time,” says Freighter Group Executive Chairman, Greg L’Estrange. “We’ve predominantly used Capral’s aluminium extrusions for our tipper range of trailers but we have also incorporated their aluminium on our curtainsiders.”

The relationship between Capral and Freighter Group has been further bolstered by aligning company values involving quality and production. Most recently, this has manifested in Freighter Group’s support for Capral’s Australian Made Campaign membership.

According to Greg, this membership demonstrates Capral’s desire to stay competitive and modern within the industry, something which complements Freighter Group’s own business approach.

“It is very important that our business partners stay modern and competitive in the industry,” he says. “We have these conversations with our suppliers all the time. Capral has done just that by seeking out membership with the Australian Made Campaign and showing the market that it has a lot of high-quality products to give.”

Greg supports Capral’s supply strength in the midst of hurdles facing Australian businesses such as the country’s physical distance from other world markets and the impact it has on supply chains. He believes the Australian Made Campaign membership will strengthen the partnership between both companies as Capral continues to service the domestic market and its many industries with diligence.

“Our preference is always to support domestic manufacturing where possible,” he says. “Capral Aluminium is exactly the kind of producer that we want to be supporting.”