Meet the Factory.

Aluminium Extrusions Metalex was made up of the following:

Extrusion Plant

• Manufacturing Supervisor x 2 (Day/Afternoon);
• Day Shift Employees x 16 (approx);
• Afternoon Shift Employees x 16 (approx);
• Night Shift Employees x 16 (approx);
• Caustic Soda Room Die Cleaners x 2;
• 1 x 'Fielding' Extrusion Press Machine;
• 1 x 'Hydraulic' Extrusion Press machine;
• Die storage;
• Caustic Soda room (cleaning Dies);
• Manufacturing Offices;
• Cooling Tower (at least one).

Aluminium Billet Oven (Outdoors)

• Aluminum Billets required heating and curing prior to being extruded.

Warehouse

• Warehouse Manger x 1;
• Warehouse Assistant x 1;
• Day Shift Employees x 6 (approx) + Suprervisor;
• Afternoon Shift Employees x 6 (approx) + Supervisor;
• Warehouse Office;
• Manual Packing and Storage;
• Local Anodising/Powder Coating shuttle service.

Weighbridge

• Weighing semi-trailer loads of incoming aluminium billets.

Electricians Building

• Electricians x 2;
• Electrian (apprentice) x 1;
• Old brick building - workshop and storage.

Maintenance Shop

• Maintenance Manager x1
• Maintenance Manager (Assistant) x 1;
• Maintenance Supervisor x 1;
• Maintenance/Fitter and Turners x 5 (approx);
• Greaser/Oiler x 1;
• Maintenance Office;
• Milling Machines;
• Lathes;
• Overhead Crane;
• Workbenches;
• Store Room.

Boiler Shop

• Boiler Makers x 3 (approx);
• Boiler Maker Apprentices x 2;
• Steel Cutting Press;
• Welding Equipment;
• Overhead Crane
• Workbenches;
• Store Room.

Tool Making Shop

• Tool Sop Manager/Supervisor x 1;
• Tool Makers x 5 (approx) - Day Shift;
• Tool Maker x 1 - Afternnon Shift;
• Milling Machines;
• Sandblasting Booth;
• Die Grinders;
• Workbenches;
• Store Room.

Remelt Workshop

• Maintenance Technicians x 2;
• Lathe;
• Workbench.

Aluminium Rod Factory

• Process Workers x 5 (approx);
• Rod Manufacturing/Processing machines;
• Site Compressor;

Remelt (Furnace) Facility

• Process Workers x 5 Approx - Dayshift;
• 3 x Aluminium Melting Furnaces;
• Weighbridge;
• 2 x Aluminium Billet Casting Tables;
• Overhead Crane;
• Aluminium Scrap Yard;
• 2 x Cooling Towers;
• Nitrogen Tank.

Factory Storeroom

• Storeperson/Stock Controller x 1;
• Servicing the entire factory.

Offices

• General Manager x 1;
• Finance Team x ?;
• Sales Team x ?;
• Administration Team x?.

Off-Site (Overflow Warehouses) x 2

1. Behind Remelt (Moller Street, Huntingdale);
2. Along Railway Avenue, Huntingdale.

Total Employees = 100 + (?)

Crane Group shuts down Huntingdale plant.

After visiting the former site of Aluminium Extrusions Metalex and discovering it had been demolished, I searched the internet to see if I could find out any info about the how and why of it all. Google led me to this Crane Group Share Holders report.

To date, this is the only thing in print I have been able to find... (pages 1 and 2 of the report below).

Aerial Photo of Aluminium Extrusions Metalex Pty Ltd, Huntingdale, Victoria (Aust).

Arial photograph of Aluminium Extrusions Pty Ltd circa 2001.

In this aerial photo a red outline has been used to show the Ogden Industries (Lockwood?) factory complex, while the green outline depicts the former site of Aluminium Extrusions Metalex Pty Ltd.

This photo shows that demolition had already started, most evident on the southern side facing Croft Street.

The end of the road...

I believe Aluminium Extrusions Metalex Pty Ltd commenced operations in 1962, and closed somewhere around 2001.

By the time I finally decided to go back to take some photos and talk to employees, it was all too late - I was disheartened to find that this once major operation had simply vanished. And I thought it would be there forever!

I believe that the company was acquired by the Crane Group/Crane Aluminium Extrusions somewhere between 1999 – 2001 with a subsequent decision made to close the factory in 2001.

 The factory complex was demolished between 2001 and 2006 (possibly 2004) – erasing all the history that was attached to it.

Did you get the Job? Or did the Job get you?

Everyone has had a job in their life that has made a lasting impression.

Some jobs create lasting memories. Some jobs create career paths and definitive turning points. 

Some jobs introduce us to incredible people - leaders, experts, craftsmen and women - funny folk, foreign folk and downright annoying folk. Some jobs serve as a lesson on what not to do again. Ever again.

Working at AE Metalex introduced me to all of the above, and then some. As a 17 year old more used to high school shenanigans than accountability and responsibility, my first summer job was the first time I had joined an adult working environment. Here, my age had no bearing on the way I was treated - included, excluded or spoken to. 


Industrial in scale and an attack on the senses, this factory was a world in and of itself - a village of diverse functions and departments, people and nationalities - a scene of sprawling buildings that housed mysterious machines performing mysterious functions with all manner of men - no women - yelling and signalling, working but always looking, noting the movements of everybody around them - including shiny newcomers like me.


This was exciting! This blue collar hamlet had already cast its spell on me - and just like that, I was hooked from the very start.