- Electrolux Group has announced the installation of a new furnace capable of being fuelled entirely by renewable energy at its Adelaide factory.
- Electrolux is the only home appliance company still manufacturing in Australia, employing approximately 450 local workers.
- The new $3.5 million furnace is a world-first for Electrolux Group and continues the move towards the use of renewable energy to power its global factories and achieve its goal of net-zero emissions in the entire value chain by 2050.
- Commissioning ceremony to be held with guest of honour Hon. Nick Champion MP, Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development and Minister for Planning.
Leading global appliance company Electrolux Group has taken a significant step towards net-zero emissions in its factories with the commissioning of a new electric-powered furnace at its Adelaide facility.
Electrolux is the only home appliance company still manufacturing in Australia, employing approximately 450 South Australians at its Dudley Park facility.
General Manager of Operations, Phil Saloniklis, said the dismantling of the old gas furnace and installation of a new electric-powered model demonstrated the company’s commitment to investing in Australian manufacturing.
“Electrolux Group is committed to continually investing in our critical infrastructure in Adelaide,” Mr Saloniklis said.
“This project continues our commitment to seek renewable energy alternatives in our factories.”
Reaching temperatures of up to 900oC, the furnace forms a key part of the appliance enamelling process. It is capable of outputting up to 240 60 cm oven cavities every hour with a firing time of four minutes per cavity. The overall performance reduces energy consumption by approximately 70 per cent.
“The furnace investment complements the installation of over 8,000 solar panels to power the facility and our Zero Waste to Landfill certification,” Mr Saloniklis said.
The electric-powered $3.5 million furnace is a world-first for the Electrolux Group and replaces the existing gas-fired furnace, which was installed in 1984. It will be commissioned during a ceremony on site with The Hon. Nick Champion MP, Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development and Minister for Planning and Electrolux Group Senior Vice President of Product Line Taste, Christopher Duncan, in attendance.
Electrolux’s Adelaide factory produces approximately 350,000 appliances annually to service the Australian and New Zealand markets with exports to North America, the Middle East, South Africa and the Asia Pacific region.
“We will continue to research ways to utilise renewable energy and reduce the impact of our global operations. The Dudley Park site is leading the Electrolux Group globally with the installation of this furnace,” said Electrolux Group Managing Director ANZ Kurt Hegvold.
Mark Goodwin – mark.goodwin@electrolux.com
