IT'S one of Australia's biggest gas truck manufacturers, but Tamworth's Obieco isn't immune to the country's labour shortage.
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The state government has just handed the company $200,000 to build a truck manufacturing facility, creating 10 local jobs.
Obieco managing director Anthony Steel said it's tough to build enough trucks to meet demand.
"It's hard to maintain your contracts when you keep growing at a successful rate like we have been over the last few years, we have gone from 30-odd people a couple of years back, to up to 70 now," he said.
"It's quite difficult, the labour shortage is unbelievable.
"We are constantly advertising, trying to promote what we do - people don't understand that a trade is a skill."
Mr Steel started as an apprentice and now manages a multi-million dollar company.
"It's going to be built right here on the existing site ... the timeline will be as quick as we can make it happen," he said.
"So Tamworth Regional Council if you're listening to this, we need a DA and we need it tomorrow."
The company supplies gas trucks to energy giant Origin Energy and BOC Gas.
The state-of-the-art facility will pump out 400 trucks in the next four years to meet growing demand.
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At the moment, Obieco manufactures around 50 trucks each year, which is more than one a week.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the development would put the city on the map as an industry hub.
"There's significant engineering, manufacturing design going on in Tamworth right now, it's the hidden gem in Taminda," he said.
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