Fluidra expands Keysborough factory capacity

Fluidra Australia has completed its 12-month long expansion of their manufacturing facility in Keysborough, Victoria.

The expansion took place during the Victorian covid lockdowns and includes a new 250m2 Fluidra Pro Centre, which was relocated from the Dandenong premises in August, a training academy and a new development centre for the APAC region.

It also includes a new laboratory and test facilities, state-of-the-art test equipment, design and simulation tools and office space to accommodate the growing design team.

As part of the integration of Fabtronics which was acquired by Fluidra in February 2020, a purpose built and environmentally controlled electronics assembly area is being constructed and will be opened in early 2022.

Fluidra trade customers will be welcomed to the new training academy for in person product training sessions in 2022 with access to industry experts and hands-on instruction. The innovation showroom adjoining the training academy also showcases the latest AstralPool and Zodiac residential and commercial products.

Going green

Brendan Butler, director of operations at Fluidra Australia, says the Keysborough facility was rated six stars for energy efficiency by Green Star when it opened in July 2016 and Fluidra continues to invest in making the facility even more environment-friendly by expanding its rooftop solar and water recycling capabilities.

“Going green provides Fluidra an opportunity to change the way we look at the products we design, the machines and processes we use, the utilities we consume and the waste we generate,” says Butler.

“We are actively pursuing a variety of initiatives around waste management, recycling and energy consumption that will help to lower our carbon footprint. Along with this, Fluidra continues to invest heavily in local R&D to help deliver new products that will be greener to manufacture and that will reduce pool owners' water consumption and electricity, and will also require less chemicals.”

Fluidra is a key Australian pool and spa industry employer in manufacturing. The Keysborough facility currently employs 131 permanent staff including a manufacturing team operating three shifts, five days a week, as well as warehouse, administration, sales and customer service teams.

Fluidra Australia employs more than 350 staff in total.

“We are very excited and look forward to having customers from Victoria and interstate visit our Keysborough facility as covid-19 restrictions ease,” says Clinton Alley, commercial director at Fluidra Australia, who is based at the Keysborough facility.

“We are very proud of the new additions and the ability to service our customers on a more personal level from the very place we design and manufacture our products.”