VALO expands to establish the Monarto Innovation Precinct

Australian advanced lighting technology company VALO is expanding to a 65,000 sqm warehousing and industrial distribution facility south-east of Adelaide, after fully leasing the former Big W distribution facility at Monarto with an option to buy.

VALO has been operating from the facility, to be known as the Monarto Innovation Precinct, for the past two months, where it has been assembling advanced LED digital displays for the VALO Adelaide 500 event, being held in Adelaide this weekend (December 1-4). Thanks to VALO, the combination of screens has created the largest digital display installation at any motorsport event in Australia.

VALO will maintain its focus on manufacturing advanced stadium lighting products at its Kent Town headquarters.

VALO founder and Chief Executive Aaron Hickmann said the site would primarily be used for advanced industrial manufacturing, including a new sister business established to build the digital displays.

The digital displays will be used in the motorsport industry initially, including at the VALO Adelaide 500 and at The Bend Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend. They will also be used at large outdoor and major events.

“This expansion further cements VALO’s presence in South Australia and our plans to bring advanced heavy industry back to the state,” Mr Hickmann said. 

“With this expansion VALO will be employing more people in regional South Australia and growing jobs in the state, which will boost the economy.

“Basing our LED digital display technology business at the Monarto Innovation Precinct also supports VALO’s plans to export to the US, Europe and South East Asia.”

Mr Hickmann said the business had supplied 30 LED digital displays to the VALO Adelaide 500 event, which include 22 separate installations around the track. The largest screens measure 8m x 4.5m at either end of pit straight.

“At the VALO Adelaide 500 we have installed some of the brightest digital displays available in the market today, capable of reaching 10,000 nits, which is close to double the brightness of other rental screens on the market,” he said.

“Each of these digital displays has been assembled at Monarto, including the large cube structure at the start of pit straight, which weighs a whopping 19 tonnes.”

The Monarto Innovation Precinct will also be used as a processing facility for industrial hemp and there will be a research and development component which involves VALO working with the University of Adelaide on an Agave project.

Mr Hickmann said there were currently 8,000 Agave plants housed at the site, which were involved in trials relating to green hydrogen, use of the plant’s fibres and in other initiatives.

More than 20 people have been employed on-site so far, with plans underway to recruit more workers across various projects from early 2023.

“We have been working with the Murray Bridge Council to bring manufacturing, employment and other opportunities to the region, and we look forward to expanding the Monarto Innovation Precinct over the coming months,” Mr Hickmann said.

About VALO

VALO is an Australian advanced technology company with its core in ultra-high-powered LED lighting.

VALO is committed to accelerating disruptive and sustainable technologies and has transitioned from importer to manufacturer, exporting Australian designed and made LED lighting product with their flagship stadium light, the Zenith Gen-V.