New South Wales’ Machinery Automation and Robotics crowned 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year
Machinery Automation and Robotics from Silverwater in New South Wales was tonight named the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year by the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, and Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo.
Machinery Automation and Robotics’ win comes 21 years after its founder Clyde Campbell started the business with “one person, a tool box and a dream,” along with a vision to deliver manufacturing solutions that incorporate advanced robotics for production critical industries. The business has grown to employ a team of 47 staff servicing clients across the globe, from its offices in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Speaking at the event, Mr Rudd also announced that Telstra
and Austrade had set up the Export Assistance Program to help winners from the Telstra Business Awards further develop their export potential.
Mr Rudd said the collaboration between Telstra and Austrade would ensure that the country’s top achievers who export can get the help they need to take their business to compete on the world stage.
Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo, applauded Machinery Automation and Robotics for the win and its role as a role model for other small and medium businesses.
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“Telstra is proud to support the Telstra Business Awards that help identify and profile Australia's top achievers in small and medium businesses – the 'engine room' of the Australian economy,” Mr Trujillo said.
“The new export program being run in conjunction with Austrade will help identify those companies and entrepreneurs with real potential to help Australia boost its exports and ultimately improve its terms of trade.”
Other businesses recognised at tonight’s gala presentation dinner were:
- National winner of the Palm Micro-Business Award (for businesses with five employees or fewer):
- Online babysitter service, Find A Babysitter.com.au of Brighton, Victoria;
- National winner of the MYOB Small Business Award (for businesses with more than five employees but less than or equal to 20):
- Eco-tourism provider, Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises of Adventure Bay, Tasmania;
- National winner of the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award (for businesses with more than 20 employees but less than or equal to 200):
- Venue and event management company, Atlantic Group (v) of Docklands, Victoria;
- National winner of the AMP Innovation Award (for businesses that have recently introduced an innovative product, service or process):
- Hardware systems provider, Centor Architectural, from Eagle Farm, Queensland;
- National winner of the Sensis Social Responsibility Award (for demonstrated leadership and contribution by a business to the environment, people, education or the community:
- Eco-tourism provider, Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises of Adventure Bay, Tasmania;
- National winner of the Telstra Country Wide Regional Award:
- Environmental design business, Clearmake of Noosaville, Queensland.
Telstra Business General Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador, Ms Deena Shiff congratulated all of the winners and finalists in the 2008 Telstra Business Awards on their success.
“Now more than ever Australia should celebrate the success of small to medium enterprises that are successful and learn from them,” Ms Shiff said.
This year’s award winners shared in a national prize pool of over $400,000, with the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year receiving $25,000 in cash prizes and Telstra products and services.
National winner profiles:
- 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year
Machinery Automation & Robotics, from Silverwater, New South Wales
Machinery Automation & Robotics (MAR) designs, builds and integrates automated manufacturing solutions incorporating advanced robotics for production critical industries. Investing heavily in research and development, MAR has developed its own proprietary technologies which enable its manufacturing clients to compete in a global market.
The business has most recently been recognised for its work in developing a unique solar industry assembly system for its client, Ausra Inc. This system includes a reflector welding system which comprises 12 welding robots, and a mirror handling system which comprises two robots. This innovation has delivered numerous benefits to the client, including increased rates of production and improved quality and safety.
Established in 1987, the business has grown to employ a team of 47 staff servicing clients across Australia and internationally, from offices in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. MAR has recently entered the American market and is looking to expand further and supply European manufacturers. - 2008 National Winner of the Palm Micro-Business Award
Find A Babysitter.com.au, from Brighton, Victoria
Find A Babysitter.com.au is an internet-based business offering parents the convenience of finding a babysitter or nanny online with introductions established via email, SMS and job postings. The childcare shortage in Australia has seen the business grow almost 70 per cent a year since its establishment in 2005. Over 22,000 carers have registered with Find A Babysitter.com.au and more than 12,000 Australian parents have subscribed to the service since it started. The business’s extensive database is updated regularly and facilitates feedback from parents to provide customers with a comprehensive and personalised service. - 2008 National Winner of the MYOB Small Business Award
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises, from Adventure Bay, Tasmania
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises provide eco-adventure cruise experiences operating out of Bruny Island and Port Arthur. Established in 1999, Bruny Island Charters has achieved enormous success enabling it to expand its operations to include the Tasman Island Cruises in December 2007. In its first year of operation, Bruny Island Charters carried 1200 passengers; this season they had a total of 28,000 people climb on board between the two operations. The business provides passengers with an insight into the untouched ecosystems of Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula. - 2008 National Winner of the Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award
Atlantic Group (v), from Docklands, Victoria
Atlantic Group (v) is a venue, catering and event management company delivering contemporary, cutting-edge events to Melbourne. Last year, Atlantic Group (v) unveiled four sophisticated and stylish event spaces at Shed 14, Central Pier Docklands and has an additional tourism, entertainment and leisure development underway in neighbouring Shed 9. Established in 1999, the company’s Docklands venture is one of the largest developments by any private investor in Victoria. Atlantic Group (v)’s event management services are able to cater for events of any size. - 2008 National Winner of the AMP Innovation Award
Centor Architectural, from Eagle Farm, Queensland
Centor Architectural is a manufacturing company specialising in systems for bi-folding windows and doors in residential and commercial buildings. The business provides quality hardware systems to ensure space transformation and embrace architectural design. Centor Architectural’s most recent development is a revolutionary screening system for large doors and windows, designed to keep out flying insects and which can retract out of sight when not required. Adding to its portfolio of 19 patents, the business has applied for two patents in each of 12 countries to protect its latest innovation. - 2008 National Winner of the Sensis Social Responsibility Award
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises, from Adventure Bay, Tasmania
Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises provide eco-adventure cruise experiences operating out of Bruny Island and Port Arthur. The company owners are committed to preserving the environment they work in and have recently formed the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund. This environmental fund will benefit the management and conservation of Tasmania’s precious marine and coastal environments. In the 2007/2008 financial year, Bruny Island Charters and Tasman Island Cruises donated a portion of the proceeds for every ticket sold to the Tasmanian Coast Conservation Fund, up to the amount of $40,000. - 2008 National Winner of the Telstra Country Wide Regional Award
Clearmake, from Noosaville, Queensland
Clearmake designs and manufactures water treatment and recycling solutions for the commercial and industrial market. Equipment is currently used in over 3,000 businesses Australia wide to address oil, water and solids separation, water recycling, rainwater harvesting, storm water management and water treatment for re-use or safe discharge to the environment or sewer. Clearmake have also developed a range of environmentally friendly, biodegradable detergents and degreasers to further optimise equipment performance. Founded in 1993, the business is 100 per cent Australian-owned and operated.
Image 1 - Mr Sol Trujillo, Chief Executive Officer of Telstra, congratulates the team from Machinery Automation & Robotics, on winning the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year Award.
Image 2 - Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Kevin Rudd, MP and Mr Sol Trujillo, Chief Executive Officer of Telstra at the national 2008 Telstra Business Awards.
Image 3 - top - Ms Deena Shiff, Group Managing Director of Telstra Business and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador and [far right] Mr Geoff Booth, Group Managing Director of Telstra Country Wide congratulate Melinda [centre left] and David Lumb [centre right] from Clearmake, on winning the 2008 Telstra Country Wide Regional Award at the 2008 Telstra Business Awards.
Image 3 - bottom - Ms Deena Shiff, Group Managing Director of Telstra Business and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador and [far right] Mr Sol Trujillo, Chief Executive Officer of Telstra, congratulate Greg [centre left] and Clyde Campbell [centre right] from Machinery Automation & Robotics, on winning the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year Award.