By Cameron Weston
MAJOR Hobsons Bay plastics company Qenos has opened a newly converted plant that will use less energy and produce less waste.
The plastics maker converted its SCAL-1 plant to enable it to run in a more environmentally friendly way, through the use of ethane and LPG.
Qenos CEO Ross McCann said the improvements to the plant complemented similar changes made to plants in Sydney and would help the company hold its position as market leader in coming years.
“The new facility brings a significant contribution to the plant’s safety and environmental commitments by reducing energy consumption and producing less greenhouse gases and solid waste.”
Mr McCann thanked government, unions, the community, regulatory authorities and the industry workforce for their efforts and support.
Premier Steve Bracks said the conversion of the Qenos plant was an important step in meeting environmental standards and would cement Qenos’ place as a leading Victorian manufacturer and an important player in the western suburbs.
“This major investment is a vote of confidence in Qenos’ future, a vote of confidence in our highly skilled workforce and a vote of confidence in Melbourne’s West,” he said.
The China National Chemical Corporation recently bought Qenos, the only polyethylene maker in Australia.
