The Port Stephens firm tasked with keeping surgical instruments and devices clean from nasty bugs and bacteria is celebrating 85 years in business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Whiteley Corporation, which began in 1933 as a cleaning and hygiene company for the entertainment industry, is today Australia’s largest manufacturer of sterilants, disinfectants and healthcare cleaning technologies.
Its Tomago plant employs around 30 staff, headed by the company founder’s son Greg Whiteley, an active researcher who was named the Hunter Business Chamber’s business person of the year in 2014.
“Essentially our job is to kill the bacteria on reusable medical instruments such as those used for endoscopy, or as we say in the industry we are ‘the mass murderers of superbugs’,” Mr Whiteley said.
“Some of these instruments are valued up to $90,000 each, and we have developed world class products to ensure these very expensive pieces of equipment are reusable.”
In 85 years Whiteley Corporation has committed to world leading research and innovative product developments in the field of hygiene, cleaning and infection control products.
Mr Whiteley said that its product range had extended over the years to include chemical products for building maintenance, and hard floor sealers, polishes and waxes.
In 1982 the Whiteleys began collaborating with the University of Sydney to research disinfection and viruses and recently the firm announced a $3.5million investment in new manufacturing research partnering with the university and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre.
“This latest project is a good example of Whiteley Corporation’s commitment to ongoing research, which will lead to an increase in industry diversification, create the need for new skills and employment opportunities for the Hunter region,” managing director Darran Leyden said.
“The growth in therapeutic treatments will include further investment at our core Tomago site, where we are working on plans for the next stage of development, including the first full Human Therapeutics Manufacturing Plant in the Hunter region.
“Over the years our strength in the areas of innovation, scientific expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit has seen us experience significant growth.”
The company has expanded rapidly in size since moving to the Tomago site of around 15,000sqm and has plenty of spare capacity.
“We are as excited about our future as we are grateful for our history, and for the contribution of so many staff who have made this a great company,” Dr Whiteley said.
“The future of Whiteley Corporation is strong with ongoing business development bringing jobs to the Hunter, as well as products to benefit everyone.
The Whiteley Corporation was founded in 1933 as the Australian General Disinfectant Company. The company supplied cleaning and hygiene products for the entertainment industry.
In 1971 Reg Whiteley joined AGDC and in 1976 the company was renamed Whiteley Chemicals, eventually becoming the Whiteley Corporation in 2005.
In 1995 the company moved to a purpose built, world-class facility at Tomago.