Key turn for new construction

DANA Australia has started work on its new Keysborough home.
The company’s managing director Peter Langworthy turned the first sod at The Key Industrial Park site at a formal ceremony on Tuesday 26 April with Opposition trade, investment and jobs spokesman Craig Ondarchie, Greater Dandenong Mayor Heang Tak and councillor Angela Long.
The 10,000 square metre, purpose-built head office will consolidate Dana’s other Australian operations and is due for completion in November.
Dana serves the passenger vehicle, commercial truck and off-highway equipment markets with drivetrain, sealing and thermal-management technology to improve vehicle efficiency and performance.
Mr Langworthy said there was a lot of negative sentiment about the Australian automotive industry and manufacturing in general.
“As the world’s most trusted driveline manufacturer, we are reaffirming our ongoing support to our valued customer base, the Australian market and our staff,” he said.
“Dana Australia remains resilient and focussed on the diversification plans implemented several years ago.”
He said the company had invested almost $1.5 million in new capital and equipment locally in the past 12 months and would invest a further $700,000 by the time the new building opened.
“We believe this project will deliver many benefits and greater efficiencies such as combining design, engineering and manufacturing,” he said.
“It will also allow for future growth.”
Frasers Property Australia is managing the development at The Key Industrial Park, about 101 acres of industrial land adjacent to the EastLink-Greens Road interchange.
Frasers Property Australia’s southern region commercial and industrial general manager Anthony Maugeri said the Dana site would be delivered in conjunction with two speculative facilities and form part of a $30 million development.
He said the seven-year lease capped off an active 12 months at the park for Frasers.
“The company has recently completed or is currently constructing in excess of 62,000 square metres of new facilities at The Key for AstralPool, Miele, Zenexus, Adairs and BlueStar Printing Group,” he said.
“An additional $25 million in land sales has also been secured.”
Dana was founded in 1904, is based in the USA in Maumee, Ohio, and employs more than 23,000 people in 25 countries on six continents.