GME acquires Eylex to support defence manufacturing

GME, a leading Australian manufacturer of radio frequency (RF) communication technology products, has announced its acquisition of Eylex — a Sydney-based provider of mission-critical communications products. The acquisition should enhance Australia’s capacity for local defence technology production, and follows a significant investment from GME into a $5 million government-certified Zone 4 manufacturing facility to support a large range of defence industry projects.

As the nation continues to invest in its armed forces and new technologies, GME believes the need for Australian-made equipment and gear has never been greater. Eylex has supported the Australian and New Zealand defence forces for the last 22 years, supplying products including tactical antennas, batteries and power supply equipment, headsets and handsets, and ruggedised displays and computing.

Eylex’s portfolio includes technology that will assist in the diversification of GME, following prolonged interest and investment from GME in the defence, security and resilience sectors. GME Managing Director Stephen Millar said the acquisition of Eylex was thus a compelling opportunity for the organisation — one which would reaffirm its commitment to Australia’s sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities.

“Developing and manufacturing high-assurance electronic equipment in Australia gives defence a crucial strategic advantage by being less reliant on global allies and supply chains,” Millar said.

“For 65 years GME has been supporting consumers in Australia and New Zealand, and more recently we have expanded our capabilities to support our defence forces. We are thrilled to welcome the Eylex team as we continue to grow our offering and support national security on both sides of the Tasman.”

Eylex General Manager Simon Coates said the opportunity to come under the GME banner was a great opportunity for the company.

“Merging the collective skillsets of the two businesses is an exciting opportunity for both GME and Eylex,” Coates said. “We have a lot we can learn from GME, and vice versa, as we bring our defence expertise to support GME’s interest and investment in this vital industry.”

While the acquisition gives GME full ownership and management control of Eylex, the latter will continue to operate under the same business name and remain in its state-of-the-art facility in Norwest, NSW.