Explosion at Mebournes Holden plant

Salem · #1 25-08-2005, 12:10 PM

AN electrical fire and furnace explosion has caused the partial shutdown of Holden's Melbourne engine plant.

Fire units rushed to the car manufacturer's engine plant in Port Melbourne about 1.40am (AEST) today after one of four massive foundry containers, which hold molten metal, blew apart.

Less than a dozen workers were in the plant undertaking nightly maintenance, and Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) spokesman John Taylor said they evacuated without injury.

"An electrical fire is believed to have caused the overheating of the furnace by cutting off the cooling processes and thus allowing the furnace to superheat and explode," he said.

The spilled metal was contained in a secure area, and a Holden spokesman said an inspection of the damage was underway this morning. "Engine production won't be halted," spokesman Jason Laird said today.

He said the explosion occurred in an area of the plant that made engine manifolds, and they had enough in stock to continue mainstream engine production.

The MFB had estimated the damage and shutdown would have a multi-million dollar cost for Holden, but Mr Laird rejected this, saying: "It's too early to tell."

Up to six fire units and 18 fire fighters responded to the emergency and remained at the scene for almost two hours.

Mr Laird later said there were about 2000 workers employed across all operations at the plant and, while the damage was still being assessed, there was no immediate need to stand down workers. "There are only about 70 people that are directly impacted by the disruption," he said.

Mr Laird said management was holding talks with affected employees who turned up for work today and alternative roles could be found in other areas of the factory.

The factory turned out about 260,000 engines last year, in both four and six-cylinder models, for export and use in Holden cars sold in Australia. "There will be no change to vehicle or engine production," Mr Laird said.