WA welcomes $70m manufacturing project

A grand opening to represent the first step in building a $70 million conveyer belt manufacturing plant in Western Australia has been held this month.

Fenner Dunlop Australia’s state-of-the-art facility will be located in Kwinana and is expected to be one of the largest and most technically advanced of its kind in the world.

The Department of Industry and Resources’ Investment Attraction Division was responsible for attracting the manufacturer to the State and facilitating the project.

Acting Director of Investment Attraction Geoff Collins said it was a very exciting project that would bring many benefits to the State.

“This important investment was attracted at nil cost to the State Government, and will result in a contribution of $35 million to our economy each year,” he said.

“The final investment will be around $70 million and will create 50 construction jobs, 30 permanent full time jobs, as well as an additional 150 jobs for on-site maintenance and equipment servicing to clients.

“The new investment represents significant benefits in the resources industry as having a local manufacturer will reduce lead times for the industry, increase production for mine sites, improve materials handling at ports and increase the export capabilities of resources companies. 

“It will also help generate significant new export revenue for the State creating opportunities with overseas markets including German coal and South American iron ore markets, as well as a number of Asian Markets.”

Mr Collins said the investment builds upon the growing number of companies and projects that the Investment Attraction Division has already drawn to the State in recent years.

The Perth facility will produce and supply high performance, heavyweight conveyer belting using steel reinforced rubber.

The plant will also incorporate a research and development centre of excellence for conveyer and materials technology and a modern training school.

“The centre of excellence and training school will have many benefits for Western Australia including increasing the State’s technology capability, and increasing opportunities for technology transfer,” Mr Collins said.

He said Fenner Dunlop Australia’s $70 million investment in the Perth facility represented the company’s largest investment in the conveyor belt manufacturing industry in the past 50 years.

Construction for the Perth facility is expected to be complete in April 2009.