International Building Trucks in Australia
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ANEW factory costing £A1m. was recently opened by the International Harvester Co., of Australia Pty., Ltd., at Dandenong, 20 miles from Melbourne, Australia. The works, which is on a 561-acre site, is producing four models of International truck at the rate of 25 vehicles a day. The range includes a utility, a light truck and medium-heavy-duty models.
This is the only commercial-vehicle manufacturing establishment of the company outside North America, although the concern has been producing agricultural implements in the Dominion since 1939. In 1948 the same factory began the manufacture of tractors.
Whilst the models at present being produced are designed to meet the specific needs of Australian operators, it is stated that substantial exports have -already been made.
Mr. R. G. Casey, the Minister of External Affairs, who officially opened the works, said that, at present, Australia had a population of only 81m. in a land of nearly 3m. sq. miles.. It had, therefore, to look to the more highly industrialized countries for assistance, and the Government welcomed the initiative and confidence shown by the International Harvester Co. Dandenong, he said, would become one of the great industrial areas of Australia, as the General Motors organization was also building factories there.