en.Wedoany.com Reported - Colli Timber & Hardware has invested $5.5 million to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Cardup, Western Australia, to expand production capacity for timber frames and roof trusses. The investment aims to align with the local government's policy goals of accelerating housing construction.
The project received a $2.734 million grant from the parent company Cardoso Pty Ltd through the Western Australian Government's Housing Innovation Fund, along with an equivalent amount of corporate matching funds. This investment builds on over $3 million already invested in the facility over the past two years.
Cesare Colli, Managing Director of Colli Timber & Hardware, stated that the company will introduce advanced manufacturing technologies to improve production efficiency. The upgraded Cardup production center will integrate automated and computerized manufacturing systems for timber wall frames and roof trusses.
"Once fully operational, the Cardup center will become one of the most advanced timber wall frame and roof truss manufacturing facilities in Western Australia, expected to produce and deliver 20 standard 4×2 house frame systems per week, compared to the current capacity of five per week," Colli said. The upgrade is projected to increase capacity by up to 400% over three years, enabling the supply of frames and truss systems for up to 960 homes annually.
The investment will be used for automated timber sorting systems, computerized sawing equipment, automated material handling systems, wall frame production lines, roof truss automation upgrades, and finished product stacking and handling systems. Colli noted that this "FrameForward WA" project aims to support local manufacturing while helping achieve faster and more efficient housing construction, improving product supply, quality, and consistency, reducing waste, enhancing timber utilization, and lowering production costs. The company expects the project to also improve housing affordability, enhance the scalability of residential development, and increase direct and indirect employment in the local truss and frame industry by approximately 25%.
The expanded Cardup facility is expected to be fully operational within 24 months. The Western Australian Government's Housing Innovation Fund has provided a total of $49 million to 15 local housing manufacturers to promote modern construction methods, aiming to help the construction industry deliver homes faster.
