Tasmanian-based Haulmax has been given a $3 million Federal Government grant to help develop new mining technology.

Haulmax makes long-distance haulage trucks for the mining industry.

The company says it will use the grant to develop two new mobile explosives units for the surface mining industry.

The prototypes will be developed for an international company, in a project Haulmax says could lead to 60 to 80 long-term jobs.

“Under the current project, as it stands today, we're looking at between an extra 20 and 40 positions,” Haulmax managing director Kelly Elphinstone has told ABC reporters.

“Obviously if we do a good job, the end goal is to secure a longer-term supply contract, which will hopefully eventuate in significantly more quantities of these units being produced out of Burnie on a yearly basis.

“If that does eventuate, we're probably looking at anywhere from 60 to 80 positions.”

It should help other businesses too.

“It's absolutely beneficial for our local supply chain,” Ms Elphinstone said.

“When we're able to attract opportunities like this, we grab them with both hands and see where we can take them because the flow-on effects for the rest of the community is substantial.

“They say for every one direct job, three indirect jobs are created so if we're looking at 20 direct jobs, you know, that's another 60 positions out in the community.”

“We continue to believe that advanced manufacturing remains absolutely possible in Tasmania and we have a really strong base from which to do that on the north-west coast.

“We have an exceptionally strong skills base among the people on the north-west coast and really good supply chain that has developed over the last 40 years.”

She said the project was already well underway.

“We've been working on this project for about 18 months now,” Ms Elphinstone said.

“What we're focused on right now is the design and manufacture of the first two prototype units.

“We've already designed what we've called a test unit for the first prototype.

“All of the factory testing we've done to date has been super successful and we're actually hoping to deliver the final two prototypes to the customer in March next year.”

The funds were awarded under the Tasmanian Jobs and Growth package.