South Australian Rubber Mills gained the contract to supply all the rubber parts for production of the first Holden car in 1947, and thereafter continued to be a major supplier to the developing automotive industry. A new plant in Dandenong Victoria, was the first to produce polyester/polyurethane foam in Australia -an industry which has grown significantly over the years. Steering wheel manufacture was also commissioned at the same plant.

The new technology of vacuum formed A.B.S. parts for the automobile industry such as seat valences, crash pads and moulded arms was introduced in 1956. Throughout the fifties and sixties, rapid growth in the automotive industry produced a strong demand for an increasing range of rubber and plastic products to be made for the first time in Australia. The Company was awarded the Prince Philip Design Award for the introduction of the trickle irrigation system in 1970.

A tyre factory was opened in 1963 in conjunction with the U.S. Rubber Company which initially owned 15 per cent of the operation. In due course, the American company changed its name to Uniroyal Inc., and increased its equity in the Australian operation to 51 per cent. Uniroyal underwent a major fiscal rearrangement with the Bridgestone Tyre Co. of Japan acquiring 60.4 per cent of the equity of the company that was previously owned by Uniroyal of America.

Hella-Australia Limited was part of the world-wide group of Hella companies whose headquarters were in Germany; the parent company began exporting to Australia in 1934. The growth of the business after the war prompted the parent company to begin manufacture in Australia in 1961 and soon Hella began making 'flasher' units for motor cars. The Company has held the major share of the Australian market for these units ever since. Automotive lamps were the next target of the company and today, the company is the major supplier of almost all cars made or assembled here.

A technical innovation of importance to Australia was introduced by Hella with the construction of the first plastics electroplating plant in the Southern Hemisphere. Vacuum metallising was also introduced with the facility being made available to other industries not connected with the main Hella production stream.

The company has vigorously sought liaison with the major car makers and have more than six co-operation agreements in place with the object of making the Australian supply of automotive components a stable and vigorous local industry. The company merged with Lucas in 1984 and continued to expand vigorously to meet the government's plans to strengthen the automotive industry through a co-ordinated industry plan. This led to the construction of a plant to manufacture for the first time plastic headlamp reflectors which brought to the country the latest technology in motor vehicle headlamp manufacture.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering