Orica's $35m refurbishment unveiled

Tauranga plant manager Hamish Reid gives visitors an introduction to the newly refurbished Orica Chemicals plant. Photo/George Novak

Orica New Zealand has celebrated the completion of a five-year, $35 million capital investment programme to refurbish and upgrade its Mount Maunganui facility.

"We're always seeking to raise the bar," said Orica New Zealand general manager Matt Cawte. "We supply essential products to many of the country's leading industries.

"This significant upgrade ensures we have the flexibility and capability to meet the rapidly changing needs of our customers. And it signals our commitment to the Bay of Plenty as the centre of our operations and the source of our future growth."

The refurbished facility, opened by Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby yesterday, is a major part of the operations of Orica, which has its headquarters in Melbourne and its New Zealand head office in Auckland.

The company also has smaller facilities in Morrinsville and Timaru.

"What we've got now is a much more flexible manufacturing operation," said Mr Cawte. "We've got a world-class facility to bring new products to market."

Orica's primary markets are water treatment, the dairy, food and beverage sectors, and the pulp and paper industry. The company also provides chemicals to a range of general New Zealand industry clients. The company supplies more than 300,000 tonnes per year in New Zealand.

The upgrade has led to a reduction in waste through better capture and recycling operations. It has also enhanced the separation and management of storm and waste water streams. The site's chemical storage and handling facilities have also been improved. That includes a comprehensive upgrade of its main storage tanks, new containment compounds and advanced control systems.

"We're talking about a lot of chemicals that need to be handled safely," said Mr Cawte. "The quality of the environment is a debate that is central to New Zealand's primary industries and these are the kinds of customers we support."

A key part of the upgrade involved refurbishing the site's tank for storing caustic soda, which was a fundamental industrial treatment for water, dairying and for pulp and paper, said Mr Cawte.

However, the company had also set up a number of smaller tanks, which allowed it to provide a wider range of value-added products.

Mr Crosby said he was delighted to have a business of Orica's calibre investing further in the city.

"Tauranga City Council is committed to encouraging growth and innovation in Tauranga. Since Orica first established in Tauranga, they have demonstrated their dedication to our community."