KAESER unveils new AU$50m Vic facility

KAESER Australia has unveiled a new 4500 m² facility in Dandenong South (Vic) that includes offices, a warehouse and a workshop. The $15 million facility features various innovations which echo KAESER’s emphasis on sustainability.

“We needed a facility that would not only serve our needs in 5 or 10 years, but in 20 or 30 years’ time. And most importantly of all, we need to always uphold KAESER’s values regarding sustainability,” said KAESER Australia Managing Director Peter Eckberg.

KAESER products help our customers to achieve their own sustainable and environmentally responsible goals. The company’s building and operation in Dandenong South is designed to be “as resource-friendly as possible and ultimately, move us to carbon-neutral operations”.

After a number of COVID-related setbacks, the first sod was turned on 12 January 2021. Eckberg and Rada Eckberg, KAESER Australia Company Secretary, spearheaded a multi-stage process that kept the warehouse, workshop, assembly area and office running during the two-year project.

A new warehouse and temporary office space with 98 kW of solar panels was built behind the old one. For a time, there was a 1 metre gap between the tilt-slab walls of the old and new buildings, representing the passage of 32 years and a metaphor contrasting the old and new.

Once the new space was operational, the old building was demolished. Over 98% of the materials that made up the old factory were recycled and reused, including all of the concrete and steel. A new workshop and office was built in its place, thus doubling the footprint.

All was finished and the final move-in completed in March 2023. Now the 4500 m² building is home to 196 kW of solar panels, so far creating a 90% drop in energy reliance on the grid. A large screen in the reception area gives employees and visitors real-time data on the solar energy generation, earnings from the grid, as well as the amount of CO² saved.

As part of KAESER’s commitment to ensure minimum possible environmental impact and move towards carbon neutral operation, three electric vehicle charging stations have also recently been installed.

In summing up the monumental project, Eckberg said, “It has been two years in the construction phase, and it is an overwhelming feeling of relief and satisfaction to now use this spacious, modern facility. We are pleased to look to the future knowing that while we have increased our physical footprint and given ourselves space to grow, we have also reduced our environmental footprint at the same time.”

Image courtesy of Kaeser.