Amid the bleak outlook for most Hillside staff there is a
glimmer of hope in the expansion of Bradken's Dunedin
operation.
• Additional coverage of
Hillside Engineering
The global manufacturing company has a conditional five-year
agreement to lease from KiwiRail the Hillside foundry.
It plans to consolidate its Dunedin operation at Hillside,
which will allow the company to increase its range of
products for domestic and export markets.
That meant job opportunities for the city, Bradken Industrial
general manager Matthew Criss said yesterday.
"We hope the strengthening or reinforcing of our commitment
to the Otago region with this further investment will provide
opportunities for employment growth in the future," Mr Criss
said from Bradken's head office in Newcastle, Australia.
He said Bradken was excited about building on its 48-year
history in Dunedin, where its foundry employed 50 people and
supplied high-quality iron and steel castings to a range of
industrial and mining customers in New Zealand and overseas.
"It's the good people and their dedication and their skills
that have put us in a position to be able to take advantage
of this opportunity ...
"It offers us the chance to build on the good work of our
current team in Dunedin and grow our manufacturing capability
and capacity, leading to local and export growth
opportunities and, in turn, increased job numbers and
security," he said.
Bradken expected to complete its agreement with KiwiRail
early next year.
It would work closely with KiwiRail through the transition
period and meet KiwiRail's ongoing cast rail component
requirements.
He was unable to say when the company would move its whole
operation to Hillside.
Bradken was pleased to be able to offer some work to Hillside
staff and use their skills.
Internationally, Bradken employs more than 6000 people and
has 34 manufacturing facilities. Almost all its New Zealand
staff are based at the Dunedin foundry.
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