Vaughan builds award-winning facility for Woolworths

Woolworths, in partnership with European-based food distribution company Hilton Food Group, engaged Vaughan Constructions to build Woolworths’ primary meat and distribution facility for Victoria in Truganina.

The 27,000 m² facility, which won the Master Builders Association Award for Excellence in Construction of Industrial Buildings, is regarded as a benchmark globally and the reference point to similar facilities planned across the country.

The project includes a 6200 m² production and processing area, a 9510 m² warehouse/storage area, a 6800 m² mezzanine storage/technical department and a 2300 m² office/hygiene area.

The core of the building’s design is the robotic and conveyor system. Meat is transported from the production area to the warehouse via a series of conveyors before being sorted and stacked by robots ready for dispatch.

The refrigeration system utilises a centralised ammonia refrigeration plant and services the refrigerated areas via secondary glycol refrigerant. In addition, a roof-mounted CO₂ system controls a -25° storage freezer.

The entire building is controlled and monitored by a SCADA system which provides control of remote equipment and monitors operation 24 hours a day.