Orora Beverage, a global manufacturing company and distributor of sustainable packaging, has scaled its presence in Victoria as part of a $110 million investment that would create local jobs and help boost the state’s manufacturing capabilities.
Minister for Industry and Innovation and Manufacturing Sovereignty Ben Carroll on Wednesday visited Orora’s Dandenong facility, which is part of the multi-million dollar investment backed by the Victorian government.
“We’re backing companies like Orora to expand, become more innovative and create jobs because we’re Australia’s advanced manufacturing state,” Minister Carroll said.
The expansion project comes as the company faces increasing demand from major global beverage customers across the industry including producers of craft and traditional beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.
The Dandenong site will host a new aluminium beverage can manufacturing line, which will help the company meet market demand for varying can sizes while increasing production capacity.
The company also expanded its capacity and warehousing at its Ballarat facility.
The Melbourne-based company employs more than 250 workers in the state and manufactures and distributes packaging solutions including aluminium cans, glass bottles, and corrugated board.
“Orora’s decision to expand its footprint right here in Dandenong demonstrates that we are a key hub for advanced manufacturing in the state,” said Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams.
Orora manufactures its cans using mostly recycled content, which goes through a conveying system that mechanically and chemically treats the materials to solidify the can shape.
The recycled cans are then decorated, palletised, and shipped to customer plants for filling.
Victoria’s $33 billion local manufacturing industry is a significant player in the state’s economy and is made up of around 240,000 businesses, supporting more than 250,000 jobs and providing approximately 30 per cent of Australia’s manufacturing output.
The state government has established various initiatives to support advanced manufacturers to innovate, build sovereign capabilities, and take advantage of new opportunities, like the $15 million Made in Victoria – Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund and the $20 million Manufacturing and Industry Sovereignty Fund.
“We’re proud of the contribution we make to the local economy as a responsible manufacturer and employer in the local community. We welcome the Victorian Government’s support for Orora’s important cans capacity expansion projects,” said Simon Bromelle, president of Orora Beverage.
