The company says the changes acknowledged the challenging economic and print industry conditions whilst maintaining GEON’s focus on operation and production efficiencies, press maximisation and cost reduction.
Over recent months, GEON has implemented projects focussed on systems alignment across the business; adopting national structures; streamlining business processes; introducing new technologies; and has recently concluded a review of its geographical footprint.
Following this review, GEON announced it will be consolidating its manufacturing capabilities to offer single manufacturing hubs along Australia’s eastern seaboard. In Victoria, this will be based out of its Mt Waverley site; in New South Wales, out of its Banksmeadow and Parramatta sites; and in Queensland, its Eagle Farm site.
Graham Morgan, CEO of the company says, “GEON operates from multiple sites across Australia and New Zealand. Each of these sites brings added cost to our business and it is therefore critical that we support our overall improvement initiatives by reviewing our geographical footprint, whilst ensuring we remain local to our clients.”
GEON has been working on these initiatives over recent months – firstly transferring its Dee Why manufacturing capability into Banksmeadow, then Docklands into Mt Waverley; installing new technologies; and decommissioning old technologies.
GEON Brunswick will be closed with all of its work relocated to GEON Mt Waverley and GEON Banksmeadow in December 2011, while GEON Tempe will be closed with all of its work relocated to GEON’s sites in Parramatta and Eagle Farm in February 2012.
The closure of the Brunswick site and the reconfiguration of its manufacturing footprint within GEON Melbourne and Sydney will ensure all new print technology investment is utilised at optimal capacity and continues to drive efficiencies and profitability throughout the GEON business.
The relocation of GEON’s Tempe warehouse into Brisbane and Parramatta will streamline the workflow; utilise existing facilities within GEON’s Parramatta and Brisbane premises; and reduce costs to the business.
Morgan continues, “These changes will deliver greater customer service, more capacity under a single-roof offering, streamlined processes, output consistency and reduced operational costs leveraging from best in class print technologies.
“These changes are not about reducing any of our capability, capacity or products to our clients. It is simply about ensuring that we have the right amount of physical buildings and press capacity to support our cost structure and maximise our capability.”
GEON are expecting to redeploy a number of employees from the Brunswick and Tempe sites into other GEON businesses. Morgan adds, “We are committed to providing our employees open and transparent consultation during this process as well as full support.
“All staff will have access to all internal opportunities as well as outplacement, external career counselling and job-search assistance on top of our internal HR team support.”
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