Volvo reinvests for the long haul

Volvo Group Australia has announced that "ten of millions of dollars" more will be spent to refurbish and expand the company's Queensland production facility to increase throughput due to increased demand for the company's trucks.

The announcement came as Queensland Premier and Minister for Trade, Anastacia Palaszczuk and Volvo Group global President and CEO Martin Lundstedt opened the company’s new $30 million Australian headquarters and dealership.

Mr Lundstedt said that the refurbishment of the Wacol production facility will enable the Group to increase production by up to 40 per cent signalling the company’s strong outlook for truck production in this country.

“Our increase in market share towards 27 per cent over the past five years, in combination with a strong heavy-duty truck market makes it necessary to further increase our production capacity,” he said.

“In the past five years alone, production at our Wacol factory has increased by 40 per cent.

“Investing in the Wacol factory not far from our new national headquarters will help grow our 27 per cent market share and give a boost to around 85 component suppliers.

“Volvo Group has been making trucks in Queensland since 1972 and we are extremely confident in the Australian market.

“We currently directly employ more than 1500 people and have produced more than 60,000 trucks from the Wacol factory,” Mr Lundstedt said.

Formally opening the new Volvo HQ and welcoming the announcement of the factory upgrade, Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk said the Wacol plant was a significant part of the state’s manufacturing base.

“Volvo Group is the only truck manufacturer to be awarded ‘Australian Made’ certification and we’re particularly proud to call them Queensland-made,” she said.

“Their commitment to the state is a vote of confidence in our future and testament to the state’s economic strength.

The company’s new national headquarters, which opened yesterday (August 22) accommodates modern offices, a large truck dealership selling Volvo, Mack and UD trucks and a big workshop area all on a 33,000 square metre site at the Metroplex Westgate business park.

Volvo Group Australia President Peter Voorhoeve said the complex brought together about 200 staff under one roof: “The main building’s seven metre glass hanger door and 12.5 metre atrium were specially engineered to allow heavy vehicles inside while the central staircase represents a DNA helix shape linking each level.

“It’s a beautiful building, but more than that it’s a tangible demonstration of Volvo Group’s commitment to its future operations in Australia,” Mr Voorhoeve concluded.