By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
NISSAN Casting Australia’s “quietly flourishing” future in Dandenong South has been assured beyond 2020.
Nissan Australia chief executive Richard Emery, in a visit to the plant last week, said it was running “close to capacity” – three shifts a day, up to seven days a week – to satisfy a global appetite for its die-cast parts.
Last year the factory exported more than 2 million parts, and was set to add 30 workers to its 160-strong stafflist.
“Some people think automotive manufacturing in Australia is dead,” Mr Emery said.
“I can tell you it’s alive and well here at Nissan Australia.”
The company’s confidence was demonstrated by installing a $2.1 million high-efficienty tower furnace at the plant in 2013 – with the help of a $600,000 federal grant.
The tower produced $252,000 annual energy savings and will cut 50 kilo-tonnes in carbon emissions during its working life.
Isaacs federal MP Mark Dreyfus, in a joint statement with shadow industry minister Kim Carr, said the announcement was a “huge vote of confidence” in the skills and expertise in Australia’s auto industry.
“These automotive jobs, skills and capabilities are what we must now strive to retain.”
