Manufacturing News

Danish manufacturer buys Bayer plant

Danish manufacturer of plant protection products, Cheminova, and Bayer CropScience have signed a letter of intent for Cheminova’s acquisition of Bayer CropScience’s formulation and filling facility at North Wyong. Closing of the transaction is expected in the 4th quarter of 2008 following finalisation of the definitive transactional agreements and of the relevant transitional steps.

Cheminova is represented in Australia through its subsidiary Ospray, established in 2005, with its main office in Sydney.
Ospray will assume management responsibility for the North Wyong facility. Ospray is involved in sales and distribution of plant protection products but has hitherto not had its own production facility. The North Wyong facility, Cheminova says, will contribute to the further expansion of Ospray’s sales and market position in Australia.

The North Wyong facility has been operated by Bayer CropScience for over 20 years, during which time they have made continuous investments in expansion and upgrading of the facility. As a result the facility is an efficient and well-organised plant of a high technical and environmental standard. Approximately thirty full-time employees are employed at the site.

The facility produces a range of the most common formulation types in demand in the Australian market and handles a wide range of packaging types and sizes. It is currently producing for both Bayer CropScience and other customers, and this will continue to be the case in future, in addition to the volumes that the Wyong facility will produce for Ospray.

Central Coast Manufacturers’ Association appoints Secretary

Avoca Engineering Marketing and Business Development Director, Martin Tanti, has been appointed Secretary of the Central Coast Manufacturers’ Association (CCMA). Mr Tanti started his engineering career with Berkeley Vale communications manufacturer, ADC Krone, in 1987 as a toolmaker, and five years later, in 1991 subsequently established Avoca Engineering with two other toolmaker partners.Apart from his trade qualifications he holds a Marketing Diploma.
The CCMA has over two hundred Central Coast members.

Avoca Engineering installs multi-tasking twin spindle turning centre.

North Wyong engineering company, Avoca Engineering, has installed an 11 Axis Nakamura Super multi-tasking twin spindle turning centre in their recently completed new factory. The CNC machine, which is the only one of its type in Australia, has the capacity to machine high precision components saving a lot of time and giving the company a competitive edge.

Avoca Engineering bought the Nakamura because it believed that it will be able to manufacture complex components normally not produced in Australia at present. Marketing Director, Martin Tanti said, “By using the techniques and philosophies that we have learnt over the years with our other machines, the Nakamura, we think, will give us a wider manufacturing range.” He added, “It is versatile and productive.

With three turrets, each with a Y-axis, able to work on either of the twin spindles the Super NTX is an extremely productive machine. And with up to 72 driven tools available at any time it is also extremely versatile, so that a standard setup allows the production of an extremely wide range of components.” “The move to larger premises at North Wyong (see story "Avoca Engineering expands") has given us the opportunity to invest in the best possible equipment,” said Mr Tanti.

Christmas orders flood in for Nougat Limar

West Gosford nougat manufacturer, Nougat Limar, is preparing for its best Christmas with orders flooding in from all over Australia as well as overseas. The fledgling company has created a market for high quality nougat in Australia, made in the traditional way with a 300 year old recipe.

Seeing an opportunity for a soft nougat in the marketplace, Andrew and Dorothy Yiasemides, carried out their own research and product development in their home over six months. Once perfected they trialled the product through their Bon Bon Fine Chocolates store in the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney. Discovered by Sydney Morning Herald food writer, John Newton, who described it as the best nougat in Australia, sales took off leading it to now be sold throughout Australia and overseas.

In early 2003, it became necessary to move from the kitchen to a small factory in Haberfield and soon after to a larger food factory at Revesby with all the necessary food processing facilities. Sold mostly through cafes and with gourmet distributors in other states, Nougat Limar sales took off and their Revesby premises couldn’t cope.

By 2007 it was time to buy new premises that the Yiasemides’ could fit out to their own specifications and a factory was purchased in Jusfrute Drive, West Gosford. The new operation commenced in early 2008 with a consumer pack added to the product range. Mrs Yiasemides said that Christmas orders so far had reached 67 tonnes while they only had a capacity of 1.5 tonnes per day. To meet the demand new mixing equipment has been purchased from overseas.
Eleven people are employed at the West Gosford plant.

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