Veridian deal signed

Jessica Benton
AUTOMOTIVE plastics production company MHG has signed a deal to take over North Geelong’s Veridian Glass factory, saving 60 jobs.
CSR Veridian spokesperson Martin Cole said the company signed an agreement on Wednesday afternoon with Melton-based MHG to sell land and equipment at the site.
“Under the terms of the agreement MH Group will acquire the plant and equipment and assume responsibility of production from January next year,” he said.
Mr Cole said the deal guaranteed the jobs of 60 staff who would stay on as employees with MHG.
CSR would pay out the entitlements of 100 workers at the plant before Veridian Glass stopped operating at the plant.
“Since announcing our intention to exit, our primary concern was to get a good outcome for the staff and all stakeholders,” Mr Cole said.
“We’ve had to do a lot of work to get to this stage and to get this sort of outcome but it’s been done.”
Mr Cole said the deal also ensured Geelong retained a capacity to manufacture vehicle glass.
He refused to reveal how much MHG had paid for the site.
The plant had been under a cloud since Veridian announced in January it would close the factory by June. The company later delayed final production to October.
The Independent reported earlier this month that unions were asking Federal Government to intervene with a subsidy for the glass manufacturing industry to protect it from cheap imports.
Forestry and Furnishing Products Union secretary Leo Skourdoumbis claimed union pressure on the state and federal governments had saved the factory and 60 of its jobs.
“The death of the automotive glass industry in Australia has been averted,” he said.
“Most players around this industry told us at various points over the last few months that saving this plant would be impossible.
“It was a huge effort by a number of parties but we did it.
“For the car industry it means that the last automotive glass factory in Australia will stay in business and the skills and know-how will stay in Australia.”