Innovation to the fore at WA Industry and Export Awards

The ceremony on October 3 for the 2009 Western Australian Industry and Export Awards reveals how the diversity of innovation of local businesses in Western Australia’s industry is making a valuable contribution to the State’s economic development.

The overall winner of the Premier’s Award for Excellence was Solahart Industries of Welshpool, which in 30 years ago has sold more than one million solar hot water units in 100 countries around the world. This includes the installation of systems in locations as diverse as Antarctica, the Mount Everest base camp and South Africa.

Category winners were:

Industry:
C.Y. O’Connor Award for Excellence in Engineering: Micromine
Nedlands Micromine provides innovative software solutions and services to the mining and exploration industry.

Marketing & Design Excellence Award: The Perth Mint, East Perth
The Perth Mint facilitates the investment in precious metals through the manufacture and supply of coins, bars and the provision of investment opportunities.

Innovation Excellence Award: SmartBurn Pty Ltd, Gelorup
SmartBurn improves combustion efficiency in wood heaters, enabling fires to burn up to 17 per cent hotter while reducing smoke emissions by up to 50 per cent.

Export:
Emerging Exporter Award: The Wine and Truffle Company, Manjimup
With the biggest mainland truffiere in Australia, The Wine and Truffle Company’s harvested truffles are sent to fine dining restaurants across Australia and 14 international markets.

Small Business Export Award: MetroCount, Hamilton Hill
A world leader in traffic monitoring equipment and software, MetroCount’s technology provides valuable road statistics for clients in more than 85 countries.

Small to Medium Manufacturer Export Award: Peak Well Services, Bayswater
Peak Well Services designs and manufactures down-hole products for the oil and gas industry.

Large Advanced Manufacturer Export Award: Solahart Industries Pty Ltd, Welshpool

Agribusiness Export Award: Grain Pool, West Perth
Grain Pool exports a number of grains from Australia to more than 20 export destinations around the world, with the majority of grain shipped from WA.

Information and Communication Technology Export Award: Embed International Pty Ltd
Embed is a worldwide supplier of revenue management systems for the amusement, entertainment and leisure industries.

Minerals and Energy Export Award: Alcoa, Kwinana
Alcoa operates the world’s largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting system in Australia.

Services Export Award: Silverise Pty Ltd, Maddington
Silverise is the largest raise bore drilling consumable manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the two largest consumable manufacturers globally.

Education and Training Export Award: Silver Trowel Trade Training, Cannington
Silver Trowel Trade Training provides educational opportunities and services to promote individual development in a multicultural community.