Mackay’s investment in plant and equipment continues.
Mackay Consolidated Industries is a 100% Australian owned private company and a major supplier of a diverse range of engineered rubber and bonded metal/rubber composite products for the automotive, defence, transport, construction and industrial markets. Mackay are continuing their ongoing investment program in plant and equipment with the installation of new hose making equipment.
This significant investment in new equipment includes knitting machines, high pressure vessels, stamping machines, ovens, washing machines and associated ancillary equipment.
The new equipment will provide additional hose making capacity, improved production efficiencies and increased hose output coupled with enhanced levels of quality control.
Environmental benefits include reduced water consumption due to the high efficiency of the new washing machines.
Whilst the new equipment is primarily for the production of automotive hoses it will also be used for producing a range of small industrial hoses.
Space has already been made in the factory to accommodate the new equipment and all the upgrades are scheduled for completion and implementation by the end of March 2011. Crucially, the new work will not affect the output of existing hose production.
These upgrades follow on from the other significant steps that Mackay has taken to modernise its plant and improve efficiency over the past couple of years. This includes the recent installation of two new 500 tonne presses - a direct follow on from the installation of two 1,000 tonne compression presses around 2 years ago.
In conjunction with the investment in capital equipment upgrades, Mackay has also taken the opportunity to invest in its staff with training designed to improve overall efficiency.
“We currently have a number of staff undertaking a diploma in ‘lean manufacturing’ through a course offered by Ballarat University with more staff scheduled to complete the course this year. We expect to see significant efficiencies as a result of this investment in staff training,” said Mackay Manufacturing Manager, Noel Hawley.
Over the next 12 months Mackay will also be upgrading its smaller presses with the planned installation of new 50 and 100 tonne machines.
“The significant investment in new equipment and our commitment to staff training are clear evidence of the commitment we have to provide our customers with the highest quality Australian manufactured products coupled with the shortest lead times,” Mr Hawley said. “It will also ensure we remain competitive against overseas companies in the future,” he went on to say.
Mackay is a first tier supplier to a number of Automotive OEM’s including Ford, General Motors and Toyota. They are also a second tier supplier to a number of other manufacturing companies which provide various products to the major automotives.
Mackay is also a long term supplier to the Australian Defence Industry, providing products such as submarine components (internal & external), signature reduction materials for surface warships, tank tracks, road wheels and pads, ballistic shields and launch silo covers for ESSM missiles for use on NATO warships.
The company’s products are exported worldwide.
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For more information, contact Mackay Consolidated Industries on (03) 9276 4633
Noel Hawley, Manufacturing Manager : 0409 399 800