As part of its 95th anniversary and long-standing commitment to innovation, Lovells Group has announced the launch of a new state of-the-art flagship engineering, manufacturing and retail centre in Newcastle, New South Wales.

The upcoming 5000 m facility, adjacent to Lovells’ main manufacturing site, will complement Lovells’ existing R&D hub in Edwardstown, South Australia, and form a critical part of the company’s national innovation ecosystem – supporting the development of next-generation products across electric vehicles (EVs), emerging drivetrain technologies, and advanced suspension platforms.

The investment, valued at $12 million, will create 24 new specialist roles across engineering, advanced manufacturing, product design, and compliance, also absorbing the existing Lovells Special Products manufacturing and design facility. The centre will offer dedicated capabilities for:

• Advanced product fatigue, corrosion and performance testing and evaluation
• Vehicle dynamic stability analysis
• Fitment engineering for both OEM and aftermarket applications
• Design and manufacture of electro-technology solutions for EV, ET (electric truck) and EB (electric bus) charging systems.

“Our new Newcastle R&D Centre reinforces our commitment to local innovation, advanced engineering, and our role in supporting the future of transport,” said Simon Crane, Managing Director of Lovells Group. “Together with our Edwardstown site and The Bend testing facilities in South Australia, this centre will ensure Lovells remains on the cutting edge of suspension, load-carrying, and towing system development.”

As part of its commitment to future research and design capabilities, Lovells Industrial Systems is also transitioning its production facilities to induction heating to support a broader strategy focused on cutting emissions, improving energy efficiency, and phasing out gas use. The company plans to have three induction units operational by the end of the year and is aiming to achieve a fully gas-free operation within three to four years.

“Induction heating gives us faster, more precise control, allowing us to heat suspension spring steel – which makes up around 40 per cent of our output, far more efficiently than gas,” said Simon Crane, Managing Director of Lovells Group. “It’s a critical step in futureproofing our facility and cutting our reliance on fossil fuels.”

Supporting Growth Across Australia and Beyond

The new centre builds on Lovells’ South Australian investment, where the company recently launched a $1 million facility in Edwardstown, employing 20 specialists and supporting dynamic testing, retail, and product development for local and international markets. This broader national footprint underpins Lovells’ ability to simulate the most extreme road and climatic conditions for customers around the world.

“Lovells is a company built on innovation,” said Simon Crane, Managing Director. “This new R&D centre in Newcastle will drive our next chapter of product leadership, especially as we develop solutions tailored for EVs and next-gen vehicle platforms, while staying true to our 95-year foundation of Australian manufacturing excellence.”