CCBR Business Review

11 M A N U FA C T U R I N G N E W S AUSTRALIA’S ONLY AUTOCLAVED Aerated Concrete (AAC) manufacturing plant, is being expanded with an additional state of the art manufacturing line that is set to double the current capacity. CSR first invested on the Central Coast in 1988 when it built what at the time was state of the art plant.   30 years later, having grown the product and its market acceptance in every segment of the building industry prompt- ing CSR to invest at Somersby building what will be the most sophisticated plant of its kind in the world. Borrowing proven European technology along with extensive in-house designs and processes, the expan- sion will see the plant’s capacity double to meet a growing demand for AAC products throughout Australia and New Zealand, and on completion in early 2019 will see the highly automated state-of-the-art facil- ity put Somersby on the global map in its industry. The project includes a new 10,000 SQM production building and associated facili- ties with a production plant designed to be at the cutting edge in terms of energy effi- ciency, water usage and waste.  “It is proven European technology and will be the most environmentally friendly plant of its kind in the world, built to the highest environmen- tal and quality standards,” said Operations Manager Steve Zebib who has responsibil- ity for bringing the project into production.  Mr Zebib also said that as part of the investment strategy, Hebel wanted to maximise the spend where appropriate in the local economy. Almost fifty percent of the investment is being spent in Australia, with a very large chunk of that being with world class business partners on the Central Coast Like BORGS, Joy Mining (Komatsu), and L&A Pressure in Sydney. BORGS-Cross Muller have been appointed to design and construct the building as well as specialty machinery and equipment, which using 3D modelling technology allows for the most efficient in design and project manage- ment. Somersby conveyor manufacturers Joy Mining building the conveyor systems and other local suppliers.  He also said that the high-tech autoclave plant is being built in Australia by pressure vessel experts L&A pressure to Australia design standards and conditions, in preference to China which would have been cheaper. Steve Zebib said “our preference is to ensure that key equip- ment which must meet highest of safety and quality standards should be designed and made locally despite it being cheaper from china. In that way, we know we can always meet our highest quality standards for the Australian building industry”. The whole project has been designed in-house by CSR Hebel engineers. “We are a local player in a global commu- nity setting technological standards that are being benchmarked world-wide particularly in hi Rise Building systems.  Already we are hosting foreign visitors who are taking a big interest in what we are doing allowing us to show case the high calibre on the central coast” he said. Around 30 people are being employed on the project and on completion the company will be employing an additional 40 people. CSR Hebel set their expansion plans in train over six years ago to meet a fast-moving construction market that was embracing the Hebel technology. Careful planning and con- sultation with Central Coast Council and the Office of The Environment, Heritage & Trust (OEH) ensured that CSR built an environ- mentally conscious facility as well as preserv- ing a Conservation Zone for the threatened flora species, “Somersby Mint Bush”.   A large portion of the land was dedicated to the East Gosford: 02 4323 1933 Suite 10, 36-40 Victoria Street East Gosford Kariong: 02 4340 2022 11 Mitchell Drive Kariong emergency dental care preventative care 1 hour teeth whitening cosmetic dentistry dental implants orthodontics and invisalign sleep dentistry (IV) sedation oral surgery wisdom teeth removal facial cosmetic injections 3D CT scanning HICAPS claims accepted open 7 days 35 years local quality dental care for life CSR puts HEBEL Somersby on the world stage mint bush species, which required the plant flow to be redesigned from traditional mate- rial flow. AAC is extensively used throughout Europe and Asia (particularly Japan) and is renowned for its thermal and fire insulation properties.  Since establishing the plant at Somersby almost 30 years ago in a partnership with the German company Hebel which devel- oped and patented the product in the 1950’s, CSR has developed building systems using Hebel Steel re-enforced Lightweight concrete panels in the residential, hi-rise, and civil and infra structure markets. Supplying large infra-structure projects such the North Connex, West Connex, M2, etc and large apartments such as Meriton Apartments.  Hebel is an environmentally friendly building material which is changing the way we build in this energy sensitive new world. CSR Hebel factory under construction at Somersby CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW APRIL 2018