Ahead of APPEX 2024, where investment in new technology will be top of mind, we bring you a round-up of new manufacturing facilities that have come on stream in recent months, many of which feature equipment supplied by companies that will be exhibiting at APPEX. Plants featured include MAP WA, Beak & Johnston, TNA, Bundaberg, Mondelēz, Opal, and Alepat Taylor.
Multi-million dollar upgrade for WA meat processor
Meat processor MAP WA says the $35 million investment at its Bibra Lake facility has doubled its capacity and enabled the installation of the latest thermoforming technology from Multivac to reduce packaging waste.
The project included $10 million in construction and $25 million for state-of-the-art robotics and equipment, which have increased product lines from six to nine and the facility’s capacity to 400,000 kilograms per week.
The upgrade features Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) technology from Multivac, which maintains the visual, textural, and nutritional elements of meat products for about twice as long as traditional packaging.
The Multivac thermoforming packaging machine is the first of its kind in Australia to run a reduced edge trim, which reduces packaging waste.
Beak & Johnston new facility is ready-meal tech showcase
Major international and local equipment suppliers were behind the successful plant fitout for Beak & Johnston's new $110 million pastry and ready meals production facility. The company has installed technology from the likes of BVT, G Mondini, HMPS, JBT Corporation, Schubert, and Ulma.
The new production facility in Arndell Park, in Sydney’s western suburbs, features the latest in pastry and ready meal production technology, and has the capacity and capability to produce up to one million meal solutions per week. It has also created 180 new jobs.
TNA added new confectionery systems facility
TNA Solutions has added a third manufacturing site in Australia, the second in Sydney, to meet the burgeoning demands for technology solutions from the global confectionery and nutraceutical sectors.
Alongside the existing Sydney site, the new facility in Wetherill Park, NSW will help TNA cater to increasing demand for its moguls and confectionery systems.
Bundaberg opened $120 million master brewery
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks has opened the doors on its multi-million-dollar Master Brewery, with Australian PM Anthony Albanese in attendance at the opening ceremony on 31 October. Beverage packaging and processing systems specialist Krones played a key role in the integrated plant delivery.
Located at Kay McDuff Drive in Bundaberg’s south, the 22,000sqm facility is more than triple the footprint of the company’s existing brewery and has been designed to enable future expansion without impacting operations. It also boasts 6000 pallet spaces in the warehouse, which the company says is a significant improvement on its previous Bargara Road site.
The state-of-the-art Master Brewery cost more than $120 million, including a $19 million grant from the Australian Government. It is Bundaberg’s biggest new development and will support the company’s domestic and export market growth by boosting production efficiency.
Mondelēz fitted $13 million automated packaging line
Mondelēz International has opened a new $13 million state-of-the-art Schubert automated packaging line at its Gourmet Food manufacturing facility at Dandenong, Victoria. The fitout increases production of Olina’s Bakehouse Artisan crackers range by 35 per cent.
Mondelēz acquired the business in 2021 from Gourmet Food Holdings, who built the 12,500 square metre factory for $10 million in 2019. At the time the company said that once fully operational, it would produce 250,000 crackers an hour. The plant had eight production lines.
Since acquiring the company, Mondelēz has invested $23 million in the Dandenong plant, including the site using 100 per cent renewable energy after being linked to Mondelēz’s Victorian renewable power purchase agreement with Pacific Blue Retail (formerly Tango Energy).
Opal opened doors on $140 million fibre packaging plant
Opal’s world class, $140 million corrugated cardboard packaging facility in Wodonga was officially opened on 15 November, with a special ceremony well-timed to coincide with National Recycling Week.
The new fibre-packaging facility at Wodonga is equipped with the latest advanced, high-speed packaging manufacturing technology, and has a total footprint of approximately 55,000 square metres. The facility also features a highly automated materials and waste handling system.
The plant installation marks the first stage of Opal’s investment in capability to supply packaging for a wide range of fresh produce, food processing, FMCG and manufacturing industries across Australia. The second stage will see the extension of the facility’s supply capacity to meet anticipated growth in demand.
Alepat Taylor invests $25 million in expansion
Melbourne contract packing operation, Alepat Taylor, has invested $25m in an expansion to its beverage packaging plant in Preston, with the installation of a new canning line, including a KHS Innofill Compact C filling system blocked with a Ferrum seamer.
Across its two sites in Melbourne, Alepat Taylor has five bottling lines with 60 million bottles per annum capacity. The new canning line, which features an Innofill Compact C, will add 27,000 cans per hour capacity (for 375ml cans). The line is also capable of handling sleek and slim cans.
