Queensland’s exporters recognised at awards ceremony

The depth and breadth of Queensland’s world class exporters was celebrated at the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards at the Brisbane Convention Centre last night.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Narangba-based kangaroo leather processor Packer Leather, founded in 1891, had been chosen as Queensland’s Exporter of the Year. 

“The Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards – now in their 26th year – acknowledge the important contribution that Queensland’s exporting businesses make to our state’s economy, through the jobs they create and the increased prosperity they generate,” Ms Palaszczuk said. 

“Queensland has always been a trading economy as we know how to sell things to the rest of the world. 

“And we know how to adapt to changing times and to keep finding new opportunities in both traditional and emerging market sectors as these awards highlight. 

“For example, Creative Industries Award winner Alt.vfx is a state-of-the-art film and television post-production and visual effects company that was established in 2011 and has quickly become one of the most respected and highly awarded visual effects studios in Australia. 

“And Small Business winner Evolve Skateboards creator Jeff Anning identified a gap in the market and created motorised skateboards, which sold out on their first run in July 2014. 

“Our established exporters are also performing strongly and Queensland Exporter of the Packer Leather which is still dominating in its field is a good example of this. 

“I’d like to congratulate all of the winners from last night. 

“It’s important that we recognise the international success of Queensland exporters – not only to celebrate their achievements but also to inspire others to look at overseas markets. 

“Our exporters make a huge contribution to Queensland’s economy, with goods exports of more than $47 billion and service exports of about $10 billion according to the latest figures. 

“We’re sending a very strong, very clear message to the world that Queensland is Australia’s foremost location for trade and investment.”

Winners and finalists are:

Premier of Queensland Export Award winners – 2015

Agribusiness Award and Premier of Queensland’s Exporter of the Year

Packer Leather Pty Ltd (Narangba): Packer Leather, established in 1891, has become the leading manufacturer of performance kangaroo leathers worldwide. Packer Leather has been recognised for export excellence and environmental performance through numerous awards from Industry bodies and government.

Creative Industries Award

Alt.vfx Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Founded in 2011 Alt.vfx is the most decorated post-production house in Australia and a world-class, multi-million dollar company with 50 employees and a force to be reckoned with in the creative industries, crafting exceptional quality work and fostering strong client relationships around the globe.

Education and Training Award

ORIGO Education (Brendale): ORIGO Education is an internationally acclaimed education and publishing company specialising in providing high-quality mathematics resources and professional learning services for teachers. Sales, distribution and professional learning services are provided globally.

Environmental Solutions Award

FarmscanAG Pty Ltd (Toowoomba): FarmscanAG is a Toowoomba-based organisation focusing on specialised electronic control systems for use in the agricultural sector. This covers all aspects of agriculture from auto-steering tractors and harvesters to sophisticated GPS controllers for spray, seeding and spreading applications. The company represents the embodiment of the precision farming concept and, in some areas, leads the world in equipment for the application.

Information and Communication Technology Award and Dermot McManus Award

Opmantek (Gold Coast): Opmantek is a world leader in the field of network management and IT audit software. Opmantek Software is currently used by over 60,000 organisations globally, and a new organisation implements an Opmantek product every six minutes.

Online Sales Award

Halfbrick Studios Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Founded in 2001, Halfbrick has been on the forefront of the Australian game development industry for many years. With the success of Fruit Ninja on iPhone and iPad, Halfbrick has catapulted to become one of the best-known indie developers in the world.

Manufacturing Award

Digga Australia (Yatala): Formed in 1981, Digga is 100 per cent privately owned and is Australia's leading manufacturer of machinery attachments and planetary drive gearboxes for the construction and earthmoving machinery industry. Digga also specialises in custom designed and manufactured planetary gearbox drive solutions for the waste, mining, energy, screw anchoring, and piling and construction industries.

Health and Biotechnology Award

Cook Medical Australia Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Cook Medical Australia is a leading manufacturer and exporter of medical devices in Australia. It uses technology pioneered and patented in Australia and manufactured in its Brisbane headquarters.

Minerals and Energy Award

Blast Movement Technologies (Brisbane): Blast Movement Technologies provides a unique solution to mines worldwide with its patented method of measuring the movement of rock that occurs during blasting. Not only has it created unique technology, but also it has sparked what is arguably an emerging discipline in the global mining industry.

Small Business Award

Evolve Skateboards (Gold Coast): Evolve Skateboards is a Gold Coast-based designer, manufacturer and retailer of electric skateboards. Since launching its business in 2011 (after years of planning and design) it has grown rapidly and its products are now sold in 30 countries around the world.

Business Services Award

Ferra Engineering Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Ferra Engineering is a privately owned local company that has transformed from servicing the local metal manufacturing industry into a globally recognised leader in the supply of aerospace and defence systems. The company specialises in the design, manufacture, assembly and testing of aerospace structures and subsystems.

Regional Exporter Award

MDH Pty Ltd (Cloncurry): MDH is a fully integrated beef production company owned and operated by the McDonald family. MDH breeds, grows, fattens and sells its high quality beef around the world, predominantly to Japan and South Korea.

Richard Joel Award

Tritium Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Tritium is a specialist designer and manufacturer of power electronic systems and fast chargers for electric vehicle and battery energy storage applications. Its international customers include Google, BMW, Stanford University and MIT.

Tom Burns Award

Queensland Food Corporation Pty Ltd (Brisbane): Cardinal Seafoods is an award-winning seafood processor and exporter that catches, processes and exports Queensland premium fish, prawn, tuna, crabs and other fresh and frozen seafood to more than eight countries. It has a reputation of high quality fresh seafood and supply local and global five star hotels such as Hilton, Shangari-la, Sheraton Hotel groups in China and Hong Kong.

For further information, please contact: Bob MacDonald, TIQ, 0455 070 552