$1million-plus announced to boost Queensland industry

The manufacturing and processed foods sectors are the latest beneficiaries of the State Government’s Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) scheme.

Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle today announced a total of $1.139 million in funding for five Queensland companies.

DTR Holdings, trading as Austchilli (Bundaberg),CQMS Castings (Maryborough), and QMW Industries (Brisbane), will each receive $250,000. A further $245,100 has been granted to Buderim Ginger (Sunshine Coast), and $144,000 to Story Farm Cuts, trading as Story Fresh (Toowoomba).

“The BITI scheme encourages regional growth and also fits with the Premier’s new blueprint for growing a strong and smart economy – Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland.”

Ms Boyle said that Austchilli grew, processed and exported more than 45 food ingredients, including pureed chilli, pumpkin, herbs and other fruit and vegetables.

The largest and most technologically advanced chilli producer in Australia, the company will put its $250,000 towards a $1.65 million Pressure Fresh Project designed to create and sell a new range of high quality pre-packaged products overseas.

“CQMS Castings plans to adopt world-first mining technology in integrated robotics equipment to boost production, create a safer workplace and increase employment opportunities,” Ms Boyle said.

“Its castings are used in the mining industry and exported to the USA, Canada and Germany.

“Acacia Ridge-based QMW Industries produces protective structures and canopies to protect drivers of machinery from falling objects or in the event of a roll over.

“Its funding will go towards the design, development, testing, manufacture and installation of a new innovative prototype for a Safety Overfit Frame structure which will improve truck safety on mine sites.”

Ms Boyle said that Buderim Ginger was one of the world’s leading manufacturers of confectionary ginger.

Located at Yandina, Buderim Ginger is developing a new processing system that eliminates the need to use sulphites as a preservative. Sulphites are a recognised allergen and the $245,100 BITI funding will further develop the new process.

Story Fresh is also a food processing company. Based at Cambooya, it has been providing fresh shredded lettuce to the Queensland food sector since 1992.

The BITI funding of $144,000 will assist the company to introduce an Australian-first system of automated lettuce processing which will increase productivity and the shelf life of its product. The money will also go towards a redesign of the factory layout and the installation of a new computerised control system.

Ms Boyle said each of the projects being funding by BITI had the potential to transform industry practice.

“The BITI scheme supports projects that promote the transformation of priority industries and drive Queensland towards an internationally competitive, sustainable and knowledge-intensive future,” Ms Boyle said.

“It focuses on the big picture and the impact of a project on an industry and region as a whole.

“Small to medium enterprises operating in Queensland’s priority sectors can apply for between $30,000 and $250,000 for projects that have the potential to significantly expand their business, their industry and their region.”

The next round of BITI closes on 13 March 2009. For more information on BITI, visit www.industry.qld.gov.au/incentives

6 November 2008

Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005

Austchilli: Ian Gaffel, General Manager, 4150 3300. www.austchilli.com.au

CQMS Castings: Max Voigt, General Manager, 4121 8830. www.cqms.com.au

QMW Industries: Jeff Samuels, owner, 3717 8707. www.qmw.com.au

Buderim Ginger: Steve Dennis, Process and Engineering Manager, 5447 8466 or 0408 547 575. www.buderimginger.com

Story Farm Cuts (Story Fresh): Geoff Story, Managing Director, 4696 1360