By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
INSULPAK’s Robert Hegyesi credits his North Shore company’s sustainability drive as the difference between business booming and being another manufacturing also-ran.
“We could have just kept on doing our manufacturing like everyone else and we would be in the same position as they are,” Mr Hegyesi said.
“Like many, we lost quite a bit of work when Alcoa closed but we have not put off any employees – we found other jobs for them to do.”
The company’s sustainability efforts range from solar panels and LED lighting to water tanks and almost zero waste.
The insulation and air-conditioning manufacturer spent $130,000 across five buildings housing several divisions, saving up to $25,000 a year with neutral energy bills.
Insulpak graduated from a Geelong Manufacturing Council Greenlight course on sustainability for business and will participate in its energy and materials master class series next week.
Industry experts including ECO2Sys’s Deane Belfield run the free workshops with Sustainability Victoria funding.
“Energy efficiency improvements can typically result in commercial gains for businesses of up to 30 per cent and beyond and with material efficiency this can be greater still,” Mr Belfield said.
“Energy prices are continuing to rise.”
More informaton about the workshops are available by emailing jenny.perks@geelongmanufacturingcouncil.com.au or phoning 5222 8000.
