Hook up for caravan maker

A DANDENONG-based caravan company will invest $35 million into a new Lyndhurst-based office and manufacturing facility.
Jayco says the investment announced last week will allow the company to increase its $200 million per annum turnover.
Jayco managing director Gerry Ryan said the move was a ‘vote of confidence’ in the company’s future in Greater Dandenong.
“This is the start of a new growth phase for Jayco and we appreciate the strong support for the project shown by the State Government,” he said.
The company’s new headquarters and industrial complex will be located on a 20 hectare green-fields site, four hectares of which will be given over to wetlands for native flora and fauna, landscaped gardens, and recreational areas for Jayco employees.
Four purpose-built manufacturing facilities, totalling some 55,000 square metres, will allow Jayco to boost annual production of its fleet of recreational vehicles by about 25 per cent from 8,000 units to more than 10,000 units, with further increases planned.
Staff numbers at Jayco are also set to rise from around 600 to 750 and Mr Ryan said about 25 new apprenticeships would be included in the increase.
The Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) welcomed the announcement with its CEO Neil Coulson saying it would boost manufacturing confidence. “Jayco and the Victorian Government should be congratulated for pursuing this strategic investment,” he said.
“This investment will not only provide 150 direct jobs at the plant but 150-200 direct construction jobs and a similar number of indirect construction jobs. It also represents a boost to the confidence of the Victorian manufacturing sector.”