Oceania Glass collapse linked to machinery failures and $21 million upgrade costs

Oceania Glass, Australia’s only architectural glass manufacturer, collapsed after its private equity owner declined to fund a $21 million plant upgrade, administrators told creditors on Sunday. The 169-year-old company, which supplied large glass panes for Parliament House in Canberra, appointed Grant Thornton as administrator on February 4 after facing liquidity issues. Administrator Lisa Gibb informed…

Act on “cheap imported products” or risk domino effect on building sector, housing supply: AGWA

The Australian Glass and Window Association (AGWA) has added to comments urging government action on cheap imports following the collapse of Australia’s only producer of architectural glass last week. In a statement on Thursday, AGWA said “serious consequences for Australia’s building sector and national housing supply targets” were risks unless more was done to shield…

SEMMA says action needed on cheap imports following Oceania Glass collapse

Industry association the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has blamed factors including “poor policy, cheap imports, government over-taxing businesses and crippling union agreements” for Dandenong-based architectural glassmaker Oceania Glass falling into administration this week. In a statement on Wednesday, following news of Oceania’s collapse on Monday, SEMMA said it was “shocked” at another manufacturer…