CONCEPT Caravans' new $3.1 million production facility in Melbourne is
likely to be operational well ahead of schedule.
The 12-year-old company launched the development after receiving a grant
from the $24.5 million Melbourne's North Innovation and Investment Fund (MNIIF).
The job-creating scheme was developed by the Australian and Victorian
governments and Ford Australia after the car manufacturer's shock
announcement it would abandon local production this year, throwing about
1000 staff out of work..
Concept managed to secure a handout for a project which involved
"expansion to increase production capacity and facilitate the development
of new products for the recreational vehicle market".
The Campbellfield-based award-winning caravan manufacturer, which has
produced well over 5000 RVs since its inception, had planned to begin the
expansion work next year but the grant enabled this to be brought forward
to last September.
The project's scheduled completion was November this year, with
commissioning and production planned for the following month.
But work on the new facility, which will result in over 20 new jobs, is
already two-months ahead of schedule.
Caravans are likely to be rolling off the production line by the end of
September or early October this year.
Concept said that to date, the number of new jobs created was well ahead of the target
set.
"It is anticipated that the target will be exceeded by over 50 percent
within the timeframes discussed and set by the Department of Industry,
Innovation and Science and MNIIF grant stipulations," the company said.
"The new facility will not only provide major economic benefits to the
local community, it will also meet and exceed all the current environment
parameters with the intention of contributing to the reduction of the
carbon footprint."
Concept Caravans was established in 2004 by Steve Caruso, Bruno Caruso and
Keir Smith who, between them, have over 45 years industry experience.