Top export honours for Brisbane companies

Exporting goods and services as diverse as post-production, mineral processing equipment, simulators, scanners, electrical switchgear and software has earned top export honours for eight Brisbane companies and one great Queenslander.

Premier Anna Bligh congratulated the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2007 winners at the presentation ceremony held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre tonight.

Ms Bligh said NOJA Power Switchgear, which won the Queensland Exporter of the Year and the Small to Medium Manufacturer Award, is again proof that Queensland has moved beyond rocks and crops when it comes to exports.

“NOJA Power, which make switchgear products for utilities companies that can detect power interruption and restore it in seconds, has in just five years grown from a start-up manufacturer to employing some 50 people with a turnover of around $15 million a year,” she said.

“Today NOJA is actively selling in more than 40 countries and their products and services have a reputation of high reliability, leading-edge technology and long life,” she said.

South Brisbane-based Cutting Edge, Queensland’s largest post-production business, took out the Arts, Entertainment and Design Award.

“Established in 1992, Cutting Edge is recognised as one of the most dynamic and diversified post-production facilities in the world. Starting off with only three staff, the company has today created some 520 full-time and part-time jobs,” Ms Bligh said.

The winner of the Information and Communications Technology Award, Mincom, was a small company of six when it opened for business in Brisbane in 1979.

Ms Bligh said today, the home-grown IT company employs more than 1300 staff in 18 offices across Australia, North and South America, South East Asia and Europe.

“It is Australia’s largest employer of software developers and the country’s largest investor in software research and development.

“Mincom specialises in providing enterprise solutions to improve business outcomes for customers in the mining, transport, utilities, government and defence industries.”

Also earning recognition was Xstrata Technology, which scooped the Large Advanced Manufacturer Award.

Ms Bligh said the innovative mining technology firm has made an impressive dent in the world’s mineral processing industry, from the USA to Kazakhstan to Zambia.

“ISSMELT, developed at Xstrata’s Mount Isa operations, provides significant edge over other smelting technologies, such as low operating and capital costs, high efficiency and environmentally friendly operation, and a flexible process. Over a third of the world’s smelted copper comes from using Xstrata's smelting technology.”

Winner of the Services Award, Runge Ltd is distinguishing itself as one of the world’s premier suppliers of mining technology services such as mine feasibility, design and management.

Premier Bligh said for more than 30 years the company has remained at the forefront of new technologies and software development and now boasts 15 offices globally.

“Runge epitomises what a smart Queensland company is all about – it’s innovative, it invests in research and development and it has a team of outstanding people with world-class skills and expertise.”

Meanwhile Vigil Systems, the makers of the only on-road vehicle training system in the world, drove away with the Emerging Exporter Award.

Ms Bligh said Vigil’s unique system, Vigil Vanguard, has been used to train thousands of drivers in fleets in the US and Canada, Singapore and Australia, reducing the cost and impact of accidents by up to 76 per cent. Vigil’s customers report dramatic reductions in claims costs, fatalities and passenger injuries.

“Vigil is expanding into new markets including mining and emergency response.”

Premier Bligh made a special tribute to the recipient of the Premiers’ Special Award, which was awarded to an inspirational Queenslander, the late Honourable Tom Burns AO.

“The former Deputy Premier of Queensland (1989 - 1996) was a strong advocate for trade and a firm believer in the benefits of international economic and cultural collaboration. Mr Burns was recognised in both Australia and China for strengthening Chinese-Australian relations, receiving a rare honour from the Shanghai Government.”

Premier Bligh also congratulated enterprising Queenslander Mark Bathie, founder of innovative IT company CVSDude, which deservedly stole the inaugural Richard Joel Young Entrepreneur Award.

The award is given in memory of the late Mr Richard Joel AM, formerly the Chief Executive Officer of the Brisbane City Office of Economic Development who played an active role in promoting economic development in Brisbane during his career.

“Mr Bathie, the first provider of commercial source code hosting to software developers worldwide, started with just $70 worth of parts he bought on eBay to build his first server.

“Thanks to CVSDude’s innovations, IT developers are able to share information safely and securely online and manage projects wherever they are in the world.

“Mr Bathie and his team of five, have attracted high profile and small to medium-sized clients, with over 60 per cent of CVSDude customers based in the USA.”

Intellection, a material analysis company, took out the Dermot McManus Award, awarded for outstanding achievement in innovation.

Ms Bligh said Intellection’s flagship product – QEMSCAN (Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy) – can analyse almost everything from core samples to soil and sand, from manufacturing products to dust.

“Intellection has grown from a start up staff of eight in 2003 to 105 in 2007, having grabbed more than half the global market share.”

Minister for Trade John Mickel applauded the internationally-minded businesses that capture and exploit opportunities in the global marketplace.

“You are outstanding examples of the world-class exporters we have here in Queensland and deserve to be recognised for the contribution you make to the State economy,” he said.

Mr Mickel said the Queensland Government is committed to helping exporters succeed through its programs and services, and aims to inspire innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and build sustainable communities.

Winners of the 2007 Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards will automatically progress as national finalists into the Australian Export Awards 2007, to be held on 22 November in Brisbane.

For more information visit www.export.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500

The Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2007 winners and finalists:

Queensland Exporter of the Year Award: NOJA Power Switchgear Pty Ltd, Contact: Neil O’Sullivan, Managing Director, (07) 3907 8777, www.nojapower.com.au

Regional Exporter of the Year Award: Russell Mineral Equipment, Contact: Lisa Lee, PA to Managing Director, (07) 4698 9100, www.rmeaus.com

Finalists: Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd, Xstrata Mount Isa Mines

Agribusiness Award: Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd, Contact:Nic Habgood, Office Manager, (07) 4690 2666, www.pacificseeds.com

Finalists: Botanical Food Company Pty Ltd, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Pty Ltd

Arts, Entertainment and Design Award: Cutting Edge Post Pty Ltd, Contact: Matthew Lawson, Director, (07) 3013 6222, www.cuttingedge.com.au

Finalists: Warner Roadshow Studios, Digital Dimensions

Education Award: James Cook University, Contact:Ailsa Lamont, Director – International, (07) 4781 5601, www.jcu.edu.au

Finalists: Education Queensland International, Gold Coast Institute of TAFE

Emerging Exporter Award: Vigil Systems Pty Ltd, Contact: Renee Luk, Marketing Coordinator, (07) 3018 0478, www.vigilsystems.com

Finalists: Envirosax Pty Ltd, eeni meeni miini moh, Firewire Ltd

Information and Communications Technology Award: Mincom Ltd, Contact: Stefanie Maragna, Marketing Manager – Asia Pacific, (07) 3303 3333, www.mincom.com

Finalists: Runge Ltd, Intellection Pty Ltd

Large Advanced Manufacturer Award: Xstrata Technology Pty Ltd, Contact: Brenton Burford, Senior IP Coordinator, (07) 3833 8500, www.xstratatech.com
Finalists: Industrea Ltd, Heat and Control Pty Ltd

Minerals and Energy Award: Xstrata Mount Isa Mines, Contact: Contact: Melaine Edgar, Manager Community Relations, (07) 4744 2011, www.xstrata.com/corporate/commodities/copper

Finalists: BHP Billiton Cannington Mine, Sun Metals Corporation Pty Ltd

Services Award: Runge Ltd, Contact: Linda Young, Global Communications Manager, (07) 3100 7200, www.runge.com

Finalists: Ingeus Ltd, JKTech Pty Ltd

Small Business Award: Callidan Instruments Pty Ltd, Contact: Ben Faa, General Manager, (07) 4955 5966, www.callidan.com

Finalists: Auran Games, Vigil Systems Pty Ltd

Small to Medium Manufacturer Award: NOJA Power Switchgear Pty Ltd, Contact: Neil O’Sullivan, Managing Director, (07) 3907 8777, www.nojapower.com.au

Finalists: Russell Mineral Equipment Pty Ltd, Intellection Pty Ltd

Sports, Events and Tourism Award: Magic Millions Sales Pty Ltd, Contact: Sean Walker, Business Manager, (07) 5538 8933, www.magicmillions.com.au

Finalists: Fantasea Cruises Pty Ltd, Fraser Island Company

Premier’s Special Award: The Late Honourable Tom Burns AO

Richard Joel Young Export Entrepreneur Award: Mr Mark Bathie, Bathie Enterprises Pty Ltd, 0412 490 841, www.cvsdude.com

Dermot McManus Award: Intellection Pty Ltd, Contact: Jolene Alfred, Marketing Communications Manager, (07) 3512 9100, www.intellectioncorp.com.au