A NEW rail maintenance facility in Hobsons Bay expects to meet the current and future needs of the tram, rail and locomotive industries.
Last week heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) supplier Thermo Kind Australia celebrated the launch of a new maintenance facility in Altona.
According to Thermo King, the facility will use state-of-the-art equipment, the highest safety standards and expertise to support its customers’ requirements for rail HVAC service and maintenance.
The new 3,295 square metre facility complements the company’s existing refrigeration and HVAC facility to create a combined working floor space of over 7,610 square metres.
In planning for more than five years, Thermo King Rail Australia started building the facility in May last year.
The construction was finished in December with the final fit in March this year.
The facility is designed to provide servicing of equipment, component replacements, coil cleaning, panel repairs, water testing, performance testing and upgrades.
The site will also test equipment for new equipment supply and provide local content.
Thermo King Rail Australia’s general manager Wayne Taylor said it will provide significant advantages for the company and its customers across Australia.
“We’ve invested heavily in this new facility to meet all safety and provide a safe workplace. It also gave us the opportunity to extend our services to meet the growing needs of the industry, including providing local content for local tenders,” Mr Taylor said.
According to Mr Taylor the new facility is expected to service between more than 100 units per year, with its location making it easy for customers to reach the high standards of service and maintenance they need.
The facility currently employs 60 staff, with the potential to grow to at least 80 in line with the business’ growth objectives in the next two years.
