Australian glass processing giant Viridian has kickstarted a $4.5 million expansion of its South Australian operations to cater to the skyrocketing demand for double-glazed windows.
Viridian recently invested $2.3 million to install a new manufacturing capability that will enable it to produce double-glazed units in South Australia for the first time.
The investment came with a further $2.2 million to provide even greater capacity for local operations. This will enable the company to meet the state’s own domestic demand while unlocking exports of double-glazed units interstate, including regional Victoria and the Northern Territory, the South Australian government said in a media release.
Through the funding, Viridian aims to increase the capacity of its Woodville North site five-fold and scale its local workforce by 148 per cent, or up to 65 positions.
The company has hired 12 new people over the past 12 months and plans to more than double its current workforce as the SA site reaches full capacity.
“This is a major investment in the State’s capacity and will ensure we have the capability to build homes to standards required. Viridian’s decision to significantly expand its SA operations is a testament to their confidence in the State and marks a turning point for our local manufacturing industry,” said Minister for Trade and Investment Nick Champion.
“For too long South Australian builders were forced to look interstate for products, now we have a local product to choose and export to the rest of Australia – once again South Australia leads the transition to a greener, more energy-efficient environment.”
Double-glazing is seen as one of the easiest ways to improve a household’s energy rating and increase thermal performance while reducing power bills.
The demand for more energy-efficient windows skyrocketed as customers prepare ahead of the October 2024 rollout of new national building standards requiring greener, energy-efficient homes.
Under new regulations, all new buildings from 1 October 2024 will be mandated to meet the seven-star efficiency rating.
“Double glazing already delivers lower electricity bills for residents, but by making the windows here we can boost supply and help bring upfront costs down resulting in a better standard of housing stock,” Minister Champion said.
