Electrolux Corporate Communications Consultant Craig McCarthy said there had been no firm offers of interest in the factory site to-date.

He said, despite rumours there had been strong interest from automotive or solar panel operators, this was not the case.

“A couple of years ago we did have some interest from a company based in China, but nothing has eventuated from that,” he said.

Mr McCarthy said the site would be maintained in good condition to entice a prospective buyer.

“I would suggest that Orange City Council doesn’t want to see another site like the one left at the old Orange base hospital and they would be interested in anyone wanting to start a venture here,” he said.

The factory site will be listed with a Sydney-based real estate agent and the Skills Centre opposite the factory will be sold off separately, as it is on a separate title.

Mr McCarthy said some of the equipment from the factory had already been earmarked for the Rayon plant in Thailand, which will be led by the Orange general manager Mark O’Kane, who will move from Orange at the end of the week.

He said the equipment, which was refrigeration construction specific, would also be sent to a plant in Brazil.

“Some spare parts will be sent off to our major distribution centre in Adelaide and others will be sold off,” Mr McCarthy said.

“The dismantling work will be carried out by our maintenance people who are remaining on site until the job is completed.

He said distribution of remaining stock would continue from the factory site until all stock was dispersed.

At the peak of production, transport company Linfox was involved in the arrival and despatch of about 30 trucks a day associated with Electrolux, but since the factory began winding down that number had reduced to about 10 a day.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au