A north-west Tasmanian drone company that builds machines to string powerlines and light bushfires says a government-backed quality certification is opening the door to contracts with the world’s biggest mining companies.
Taz Drone Solutions, based in Sheffield, used a $20,000 state grant to chase ISO 9001 accreditation, a global quality standard.
The company was held up as a success story when the government announced its latest round of manufacturing grants on June 12, 2026.
That new round shares $240,775 between 17 separate projects.
Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis said the program was about helping local manufacturers work smarter and reach new markets.
“We are backing our advanced manufacturing businesses, helping them achieve greater production efficiencies, more diverse training opportunities and accreditations to enable greater market access,” he said.
Taz Drone received its grant in the previous funding round, in 2024-25.
Founder Andrew Davies said the certification was what stood between his business and contracts with major players such as BHP and Rio Tinto.
“We have to increase our overall quality standards and systems and the ISO 9001 is going to help us break into those major markets with tier ones across the country and globally,” Davies said.
The company employs 15 people in its manufacturing arm and wants to keep that work in Sheffield as it expands into mining and energy projects on the mainland and overseas.
Ellis pointed to the firm as an example of the kind of innovation the program was designed to support.
The grants are capped at $20,000 per project, with the state government paying half the eligible costs.
The program has backed 37 projects worth more than half a million dollars since it started in November 2024.
This financial year, $400,000 is on the table. The latest recipients span food, drink, engineering and boat-building.
Van Diemens Land Creamery, GP Glass, Cult Organic Products and Spreyton Fresh each picked up the full $20,000.
Broad Arrow Wines received $8,425 to build an export sales plan, while Sentinel Boats got $7,500 to design a new factory layout with the Swinburne University of Technology.
