PACCAR Australia has taken delivery of a one-of-a-kind V-type double girder crane which will be installed as part of its Bayswater site expansion in southeast Melbourne.
The crane measures 20 metres in length, with dual-hoists and a 16 tonne load capacity. It travelled down the Hume Highway from Sydney to Bayswater transported by the experienced heavy-haulage team, Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire, in a Kenworth Legend 900.
The Legend 900 is affectionately called ‘Jack’, named after owner Craig Membrey’s son.
Membrey’s Transport has an extensive range of equipment, including a variety of cranes, containers and trailers, and a fleet of Kenworth trucks designed specifically for heavy haulage needs.
The Bayswater site expansion has seen the recent completion of a new 400-space staff car park. Another 20-metre extension to the main plant is underway in preparation for the instalment of a 2.1 metre robotic assembly system.
The $37 million investment, first announced at the DAF Australian assembly launch in August last year, includes a 1500 square metre factory extension, with upgrades to the paint shop, featuring four new paint robots, and improved layouts for frame, cab build, cab trim, engine assembly and final line stations.
To allow for more production space, the final test operation is also being relocated away from the main plant. In addition, a new 9300 square metre on-site warehouse will be constructed, providing greater on site storage for components and a reduction in lead time for parts.
The project, planned for completion in 2021, will coincide with PACCAR’s 50th year of manufacturing in Australia and will increase efficiency, quality and safety. The plant expansion will enable Paccar Australia to achieve its future growth plans producing Kenworth and DAF trucks.
“We are more than pleased with the progress of work that has been completed so far on the expansion of the site,” PACCAR Australia operations director Tom Cooper says.
“The workforce has been incredibly accommodating whilst we work through these changes to continue to produce quality trucks our customers expect.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us, though are confident we will meet the project deadline with as little disruption as possible to staff and most importantly the manufacturing plant; culminating in a better plant and workplace for all.”
Kenworth trucks are designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia by PACCAR for applications throughout Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
