Darwin-based manufacturing company Arctic Insulated Panels (Arctic) will develop an advanced Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation manufacturing line in the Northern Territory, marking the 16th and final project supported under the Northern Territory government’s $7.5 million Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF).
The $2.4 million project will establish local production of high-performance PIR ‘soffit boards’, an essential building material used beneath roof eaves to improve ventilation, moisture protection, and thermal efficiency.
By manufacturing these boards locally, Arctic aims to reduce the Territory’s reliance on imported materials and deliver products that meet or exceed Australia’s national energy efficiency standards.
The project is expected to create 35 new jobs and deliver an estimated $16.5 million revenue uplift over the next five years.
Supported through an AMEF co-investment of $476,004, the initiative also includes Arctic’s own matched funding and in-kind contributions.
Arctic’s Managing Director, Gary Burns, said the project would help meet growing demand for sustainable building materials in the Territory.
“This project gives builders access to a locally made, high-performance soffit board that meets or exceeds energy efficiency requirements under the National Construction Code.
“It means more local jobs, reduced project costs, and greater self-sufficiency for the Territory.”
The new facility will incorporate a dedicated research and development function led by an in-house chemist, focusing on developing a unique PIR formulation optimised for the Territory’s tropical climate.
Arctic will design custom, fit-for-purpose machinery to support its proprietary manufacturing process and create pathways for future product innovation.
The initiative builds on Arctic’s earlier AMEF-backed success, where it delivered a $2.9 million project to commercialise cyclone-certified insulated roof panels.
That project led to a 150 per cent revenue increase, expansion into Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, and creation of 25 additional jobs at its East Arm site.
The Northern Territory Minister for Advanced Manufacturing, The Hon Robyn Cahill OAM, said the project’s benefits extend well beyond manufacturing.
“Arctic is developing a product that has far reaching impacts beyond manufacturing, it is delivering a solution for energy-efficiency in housings and buildings, creating local jobs and strengthening the Territory’s innovation eco-system,” said Cahill.
“Through the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund we are driving real industry growth, which is in turn creating real opportunities for Territorians, now and into the future.”
Industry collaboration is central to the project’s implementation.
Local engineering firms Rapid Engineering NT and Gillard Engineering Services will contribute technical expertise, while researchers at James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station will verify structural strength and cyclone resilience.
Certification partner CMI Certification will oversee compliance and CodeMark accreditation.
According to Charmaine Phillips, AMGC’s Northern Territory Director, Arctic exemplifies the type of innovation the AMEF was designed to encourage.
“Arctic is a worthy recipient of the AMEF’s final funds, demonstrating the impact of manufacturing and the importance of continuing to foster Northern Territory capability,” said Phillips.
“This local manufacturer also demonstrates the substantive gains for local jobs and the economy when industry is supported to scale.”
Since its launch in 2021, the Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund, administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), has supported 16 projects valued at $32.1 million.
Collectively, these projects are projected to generate more than 310 jobs and deliver over $163 million in economic impact to the Territory’s economy.
