BUYERS can expect the highest-quality finish thanks to 3D printing and other hi-tech processes when independent vehicle importer Performax International launches the 2015 edition of its most popular American pick-up, the Chevrolet Silverado.

The Queensland manufacturer expects to begin selling the Silverado 2500HD and its upmarket General Motors stablemate, the GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD, from August.

The vehicles will join the current Ford Super Duty F-250 in full-volume, right-hand drive production approved by the Federal Government.

With the RAWS-approved Toyota Tundra and Dodge Ram, Performax International will offer the biggest range of American pick-ups in Australia.

Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Toyota and Dodge pick-ups will be for sale at 11 authorised Performax retail dealers in every State and the Northern Territory, including recently-signed outlets in Nowra (NSW) and Bunbury (WA).

Performax recently started construction of a new sales and service headquarters at North Lakes, on Brisbane's fast-growing northern fringe.

The 2015 Silverado will arrive with significant upgrades to interior design and quality.

General Manager Glenn Soper said engineering a right-hand drive dashboard to factory-original fit, finish and functionality standards, and capable of being manufactured in series production, was the highest priority for the Performax team at its Gympie factory north of Brisbane.

"The difference between a Performax vehicle and other converted imports is in the superior quality of our engineering, fit and finish," he said.

"We have almost 100 staff in our Gympie factory, including highly-trained engineers. The right-hand drive Performax pick-up you buy has been engineered and built by Australians.

"Our mission is to build a RHD vehicle that drives and looks exactly like factory-original, including all the complex electronics like drive-by-wire throttle.

"Full-volume series production of the Silverado, Denali and F-250 ensures we hit the quality mark with every vehicle, all backed by a factory-standard warranty."

The dashboard was developed using 3D scanning and printing technology before being produced in high-pressure injection moulded plastic, Mr Soper said.

"We provide a fibreglass right-hand drive dashboard to our manufacturing partner in China so they can see it in a mirrored image. That is then reverse-engineered or scanned into a 3D CAD model, which is then sent to us.

"We check it and ask for changes when we're not happy with the finish and then when we're 100 percent confident that the design is as close as we can get it in the virtual world, we 3D-print it.

"With this 3D-printed dashboard we can do an in-vehicle confirmation, so we can check all the interfaces in the vehicle and ensure that everything lines up – the injection mould tool is a six-figure investment for Performax, so we make sure it's absolutely right and every dashboard comes out ready to fit.

"With the Silverado and Denali and our existing full-volume 2015 Ford F-250 we're taking things a step higher with the quality and finish of our parts.

"We are confident our Australian-engineered and manufactured pick-ups with full-volume compliance offer the absolute best quality in this specialised segment of the new vehicle market."

More details of the right-hand drive 2015 Silverado 2500HD and GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD specifications and pricing will be announced at launch time.

Performax International authorised dealers:

Performax Queensland
Performax International (Head Office)
Cnr Bruce Highway and Hall Rd, Gympie Qld 4570
P: 1800 PERFORMAX
Website: www.performaxinternational.com.au/

Performax Darwin
17-25 Stuart Highway, Stuart Park NT 0820
P: (08) 8980 8080
Website: http://www.kerrys.com.au

Performax North Queensland
52 Duckworth Street, Townsville Qld 4814
P: (07) 4726 7777
Website: www.tonyireland.com.au

Performax Darling Downs
Cnr James and Hume Streets, Toowoomba Qld 4350
P: (07) 4526 7254
Website: http://www.toowoombaholden.com.au

Performax South West NSW
9 Zouch Street, Young NSW 2594
P: (02) 6382 3033
Website: www.mcalistermotors.com.au

Performax Nowra
104 Princess Highway, South Nowra NSW 2541
P: 0244214777
Website: www.nowratoyota.com.au

Performax Geelong
7-12 Industrial Place, Breakwater Vic 3219
P: 1300 223 300
Website: www.performaxgeelong.com.au

Performax South Australia
1459 Main North Road, Para Hills West SA 5096
P: (08) 8256 1212
Website: http://www.peterkittle.com.au

Performax Tasmania
Cnr Argyle and Brisbane Street, Hobart, Tasmania 7000
P: 03 6234 0250
Website: http://www.performaxtasmania.com.au

Performax Perth
107-113 Pinjarra Road, Mundurah WA 6210
P: (08) 9535 0601
 Website: www.performaxperth.com.au

Peformax Bunbury
34 Spencer Street, Bunbury WA 6230
P: (08) 9722 2333
Website: www.bunburytoyota.com.au

Further information, contact: