Built for the future: KAESER Australia unveils new facility in Vic

KAESER Australia has unveiled its new 4500 m² facility in Dandenong South, Victoria, which includes offices, a warehouse and a workshop. The $15 million facility features various innovations that echo KAESER’s emphasis on sustainability.

The original warehouse and office was constructed in 1989 on Zenith Road, Dandenong South, in the industrial outskirts of Melbourne’s south-east. The following year, KAESER Compressors Australia was established and the fledgling subsidiary moved in.

Over time the business grew, but despite modifications and expansion works, eventually it was apparent that an entirely new facility was needed. Utilising the existing site, the challenge was to keep the business running while demolishing and rebuilding the entire premises at double the size.

“We needed a facility that would not only serve our needs in five or 10 years, but in 20 or 30 years’ time — and, most importantly of all, we need to always uphold KAESER’s values regarding sustainability,” said KAESER Australia Managing Director Peter Eckberg. This philosophy permeates the company from product design and manufacture at the head office in Coburg, Germany, all the way down to the Australian subsidiary in Melbourne.

“KAESER products set new standards when it comes to dependability, efficiency and sustainability,” Eckberg said. “Our product innovations help to reduce resource and energy consumption significantly and to save emissions and operating costs.

“They also help our customers to achieve their own sustainable and environmentally responsible goals. Likewise, our building and operation here in Dandenong South is designed to be as resource-friendly as possible and, ultimately, move us to carbon-neutral operations.”

After a number of COVID-related setbacks, the first sod was turned on 12 January 2021, with a new warehouse and temporary office space with 98 kW of solar panels built behind the old one. Once the new space was operational, the old building was demolished. Over 98% of the materials that made up the old factory were recycled and reused, including all of the concrete and steel. A new workshop and office were built in its place, thus doubling the footprint. The final move-in took place in March 2023.

Now the 4500 m² building is home to 196 kW of solar panels, so far creating a 90% drop in energy reliance on the grid. A large screen in the reception area gives employees and visitors real-time data on the solar energy generation, earnings from the grid, as well as the amount of CO₂ saved. As part of KAESER’s commitment to ensure minimum possible environmental impact and move towards carbon-neutral operation, three electric vehicle charging stations have also recently been installed.

Managing Director Peter Eckberg with the EV charging station.

In summing up the monumental project, Eckberg said, “It has been two years in the construction phase, and it is an overwhelming feeling of relief and satisfaction to now use this spacious, modern facility. We are pleased to look to the future knowing that while we have increased our physical footprint and given ourselves space to grow, we have also reduced our environmental footprint at the same time.”

Top image: The new KAESER Australia head office, completed in 2023 (image by Misheye).