Funded project – Expansion of the CLOS Advanced Building Facility at the old Ford Factory in Geelong
CLOS planned to expand its construction facility at the former Ford factory site near Geelong. The upgraded facility would have combined advanced manufacturing technology with timber construction to produce affordable, high-quality homes.
The Victorian Government supports initiatives that aim to design out waste and contribute to a net-zero circular economy in Victoria. One-third of Victoria's landfill comes from construction and demolition waste. Cross Laminated Offsite Solutions (CLOS) proposed a project aimed at accelerating the adoption of circular economy principles in Victoria's construction industry to reduce material use, carbon emissions and costs.
The CLOS plant planned to construct high-quality, affordable homes using advanced manufacturing technology and efficient timber processes. A "closed panel system" would have enabled the completion of finished wall and floor panels on a "conveyor line." At full capacity, the facility was designed to produce hundreds of new high-quality homes.
The funding was awarded through a competitive process. Payment was milestone-based, with CLOS completing only three of six milestones before entering administration. The project and remaining milestone payments were discontinued.