FEATURE ARTICLE
Riviera Continues To Upgrade Facilities The first stage of a $10 million five-year expansion program at Riviera’s state-of-the- art manufacturing facility is almost complete. When the current scheduled works are completed, the facility will cover 48,432 square metres (521,321 square feet) of production space under roof including specialist covered on-water facilities. Current buildings are being expanded to be higher and deeper to accommodate larger models. In September a new high-tech Lamination Centre was commissioned. It is the largest and most advanced building within the Riviera precinct, affirming its dedication to high-quality manufacturing. The Centre has significantly expanded Riviera’s existing boatbuilding work area, providing a temperature-controlled environment to enhance the lamination process while also adding to the personal comfort of staff. It also delivers additional spray-painting booths and fibreglass cutting bays as well as a new dedicated resin-infusion area where the team employs the latest technology to produce high quality composites for the building of decks, hardtops and boarding platforms. The already impressive final fitout facility has been enlarged to incorporate the build of the Sports Motor Yacht and Motor Yacht lines. The facility utilised to prepare motor yachts for export and shipping has also been extended and fully enclosed to provide all- weather protection and to allow additional yacht painting capacity. A new 100-tonne travelift transporter has been commissioned to facilitate
number of long-term team members affirm Riviera as an employer of choice. Indeed, our apprentices are consistently recognised as leaders in their trades. “Nine out of 10 of our apprentices have continued their careers at Riviera and today are all vital members of our team helping to meet the global demand for our luxury motor yachts.” Riviera apprentices are offered a far broader and more valuable skills base. During their training, they are rotated through all areas of the business relevant to their trade whilst being mentored by many different master craftspeople, to become specialists in their chosen field and ensure all trade qualifications are exceeded. Propelling Forward Lives And Careers Riviera’s Safety and Training Manager, Adam Houlahan, says the apprenticeship program is designed to optimise both the career potential and personal growth of each participant. “In addition to apprentice training, we have developed the Riviera Propel Program, which covers both workplace and life skills and is a pathway to personal excellence,” he says. “This aspect of their training is about developing fine young Australians equally as skilled tradespeople. We build confidence, people skills, financial maturity, and goal setting under the mentorship of key Riviera staff including Rodney Longhurst and CEO Wes Moxey. “Outstanding apprentices are recognised with opportunities to travel nationally and internationally to work on our motor yachts and represent the company at major boat shows.”
the expedient movements of yachts throughout the site. Efficiency gains are being made through the expansion of the warehouse and the implementation of bar-coding as part of the individual yacht kitting process. The timber department is also being expanded with additional laser CNC machines. A total of 11 new machines are now operating in the timber and the digital kitting departments. A new warehouse facility, which will house all timber and digital kitting materials, is under construction opposite the newly consolidated timber and kitting departments. Expansion and improvement is being undertaken on water too. Major works are nearing completion to the Riviera 51-berth marina for production and aftermarket yachts. With continuing new model development, total commitment to enhancing the skills of its people, a widening international representation and enhanced facilities to provide the resources the team needs to constantly improve quality, the future for the entire team is very bright.
Images supplied courtesy of Riviera
2023 AUSTRALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY | 9
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