Australia’s Ego Pharmaceuticals has just opened a state of the art flammable goods manufacturing facility in Braeside, allowing the family-owned company to double its bottle-filling capacity and service its booming export business.
The $15 million facility will manufacture products that contain flammable ingredients, including Aqium Hand Sanitiser, MOOV Head Lice treatments, SOOV Bite gel, Resolve solution and select SunSense sunscreens, at large scale.
Ego’s Managing Director Alan Oppenheim said the project, which is the biggest production expansion in the company’s 63 year history, increases Ego’s total production capabilities dramatically.
“It’s an investment in new technology, new processes, jobs in Australia, economic uplift and skin health for the community,” Mr Oppenheim said.
The new facility increases Ego’s ability to fulfill large demand from Asia and the Middle East and comes after the business missed out on an international order for 10 million anti bacterial hand sanitisers, prompted by the 2014 MERS epidemic. At that time, the firm’s facility was unable to meet the requested the large quantity and short turnaround time.
The project is part of a 30-year expansion plan for the company, which also includes a $135 million development in a new global headquarters at the Logis Estate in Dandenong South, which spans 9.5 hectares.
Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox said the Braeside facility signals the good health of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Australia.
“Manufacturing in Australia can prosper where there is a strong commitment to innovation and a willingness to invest in opportunity. There is a bright future for agile manufacturers that can remake themselves to meet new markets,” Mr Willox said.
Ego says it is committed to remaining in Australia is a core part of its strategy and business success.
“We have so much talent and opportunity in Australia – it just takes smart planning and strong investment for the long term” Mr Oppenheim says.
The Braeside facility was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by former Minister for Trade Andrew Robb AO.