Caroma to reorganise its supply chain

Bathroom hardware giant GWA Group (Caroma’s owner) is repositioning to an Australian designed, engineered, and outsourced manufacturing model.
GWA Group is to reposition the company to create more efficient manufacturing practices for its customers and business. GWA Group will be completely redesigning its distribution network inclusive of a purpose-built distribution centre, all the while reducing operational costs and environmental footprint. The new facility is also enlarging the group’s R&D resources.
GWA group general manager of supply chain Sean Mitchell said: “The transformation of our warehouse management system will future-proof our business. The outcome will provide us with flexibility to grow with improved supply and operational efficiencies.”
The new 31,029 m2 facility in Prestons, NSW will reduce GWA Group’s overall network footprint by consolidating NSW operations to one purpose-built site with state-of-the-art warehousing and R&D facilities.
TM Insight led the property procurement process, and together with GWA Group, is designing the warehouse and managing the construction and implementation of the facility. The Charter Hall-managed Prime Industrial Fund (CPIF) is developing the asset for ownership within its $2 billion industrial and logistics portfolio.
“This new facility will be truly bespoke to ensure optimal warehouse and operational flow for GWA Group’s diverse product range. This new building, which will be owned, managed and developed by Charter Hall, will be moving away from the traditional property led industrial building model into a purpose-built facility to meet the business objectives of GWA Group,” said TM Insight director Milan Andjelkovic.
The brief encompassed numerous environmentally sustainable design elements to  reduce GWA Group’s environmental footprint and simultaneously increase operational and costs efficiencies.
The facility is anticipated to be operational in 2018. The overall project is estimated to cost $45 million.