17 vie for Auckland Export Awards

National Office - 17 vie for Auckland Export Awards

The convenor of judges for the Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards 2010, Hugh Cronwright, has announced the finalists.

Seventeen organisations fill the 23 finalist places to be in for a chance to take home the six trophies. The award categories and finalists are:

QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year (total sales under $35 million)

· GMP Pharmaceuticals Ltd - GMP Pharmaceuticals is a TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) & GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) licensed contract manufacturer based in Auckland, New Zealand. Est. in 2001 it is one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned health food contract manufacturer. Since its inception the company has been in the business of contract manufacturing a variety of top quality, market ready and customized health supplements to a large number of OEM customers in New Zealand and overseas markets.

The company not only manufactures a wide range of health supplements but also offer customers, services ranging from; product formulation, label design, packaging solutions, logistics and regulatory advice along with services via (AUNEW) to gain entry for their products into the Chinese market, find distributors , test market, retail and much more.

· Good Health Products Ltd - Good Health Products is a company truly made of New Zealand. All of the elements that New Zealand is renowned for world-wide are contained in the Good Health story. Pure natural ingredients, Innovation, leading technology, Family values.

Good Health designs and manufactures a wide range of natural New Zealand sourced health food products including over 120 products in the local market.

Good Health's core exports include: colostrum products - pure colostrum power, colostrum milk power and colostrum chewable tablets; omega oils - evening primrose oil, flax oil; joint products – Green Lipped Mussel, glucosamine and chondroitin; vitamins and multivitamins; bee products - bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis.

In 2009 Good Health won the Chelsea Sugar Export Award for excellence in exporting based on the skill in leveraging the New Zealand brand image in its marketing.

· JMP Engineering Ltd - JMP specialises in offering total solutions for Robotic Palletising. They distinguish themselves by having the flexibility to provide correct solutions for customers. Their innovative work in this area has been recognised in the NZ Engineering excellence awards. By leveraging off reference sites in the USA they gained the opportunity to tender for a project with Frito-Lay(a division of PepsiCo).The judges were impressed by the high level of responsiveness and professionalism demonstrated in responding to the customer requirements in the tender.JMP secured the contract to supply Frito-Lay manufacturing sites in North America and won the Frito-Lay 2009 Capital Supplier of the Year.

· Lifestream International Ltd - Lifestream International Ltd is a NZ privately owned licensed manufacturer and marketer of a range of over 60 natural nutritional products such as Spirulina, Aloe Vera Juice, NZ Certified Organic Barley and Wheat Grass, NZ Blackcurrant Capsules and Natural Calcium . Lifestream also manufactures a range of Aloe Vera Skincare products. Lifestream is committed to supplying the best quality whole food supplements available - no synthetics and no compromise! Lifestream exports over 60% of its products to over 20 international markets. In 2008 Lifestream International was awarded the NATURAL PRODUCTS NEW ZEALAND EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING AWARD and, in 2009 was awarded the NATURAL PRODUCTS NEW ZEALAND EXPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

· Modtec Industries - Modtec Industries Ltd design and manufacture the Integ (www.integinternational.com) range of modular monitor arms for commercial furniture & medical applications.

Monitor arms are used increasingly in commercial furniture & medical installations as they deliver numerous benefits including; better ergonomics, increased space saving and increased productivity.

With the growth in new technology (web cams) & dual screen applications and laptop usage, mounting solutions are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and specialised. Recent international research suggests that productivity increases of up to 44% can be achieve (NY Times, Jan 2009) through the use of dual monitors and this is helping drive growth.

Westpac Exporter of the Year (total sales over $35 million)

· BCS Group - BCS employs 270 staff in sites including Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin and Perth and North America. Its expertise lies in logistics hardware, automation controls and elegant software solutions which has made it supplier of choice to airports, freight and industrial customers around the world.

BCS is the preferred supplier of baggage handling solutions for Airports in the Australasian region with 75% market share within the Australian market. BCS is growing to be a major player in the international airports market having supplied systems and services in over 30 countries over the past few years to airports in a diverse range of markets including Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Greece, France, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Vietnam and the Philippines.

· Cognition Education - Cognition Education has developed from a supplier of support services to New Zealand schools (as Multiserve) to a multimillion dollar enterprise exporting New Zealand educational values and systems throughout Asia, the Middle East and beyond. It is now a preferred supplier to governments focusing on education reform, particularly in the Gulf States, and annual export earnings have grown from $10 million in 2007 to over $60 million. What impressed the judges was the enthusiasm and sense of commitment of the Cognition team and the focus on core priorities. Business growth is based on careful planning, rigorous market research and risk management. Cognition has around 400 staff, has recently opened a regional office in Abu Dhabi, and is actively exploring new and promising markets in North Africa and South East Asia.

· Hansells Food Group - Hansells Food Group Ltd is an Auckland based Company employing 350 people worldwide. One of New Zealand’s major Food manufacturers, exporting to the UK , Australia, Europe, Canada, Asia, Pacific. The company has shown dramatic growth and is now regarded as one of New Zealand’s most innovative food manufacturers. After the acquisition of iconic New Zealand company Hansells NZ Ltd in 2006 (est. 1934), Old Fashioned Foods Group changed its name to Hansells Food Group Ltd in April 2010. Hansells, Turning good ideas into great food that people love.

· New Image Asia - New Image’s core business is based on a highly-effective direct selling business model that involves around 78,000 people from 14 countries throughout Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The Auckland headquartered health and wellness product manufacturer takes colostrum and through a patented process turns it into a range of products that cater for all life-stages - from infant formula to adult breakfast drinks, tablets and capsules. In 2009 those products drove sales of just over $98 million. That put it in the Direct Selling News Global Top 100 out of 8,000 companies. Graeme Clegg, New Image’s Founder and Executive Chairman, pioneered R&D into the health-giving benefits of colostrums and is an internationally respected expert on its properties. Colostrum is the first milk produced by all mammals after giving birth. It provides the new born with high levels of active antibodies that stimulate the immune system to promote healing, protection, growth and general health. New Image uses colostrum from cows in its products as it contains the same vital components as human colostrum. New Image has an impressive 26 year track record and remains innovative and entrepreneurial as it develops new products and technology to manufacture them.

TNT Express Emerging Exporter Award

· Senztek Holdings Ltd - Senztek manufactures smart energy management technology. They design, manufacture and market controllers that enable efficient control of energy consumption, primarily in hot water cylinders (HWC). Such controllers include their EcoStat® branded HWC controller and the SolaStat® branded solar hot water system controllers. The most important sector for Senztek is solar hot water heating. This is a significant growth industry globally.Senztek is the leading manufacturer of hot water heating control technology in New Zealand and aims to maintain this position by continuing to introduce world class innovative solutions to solve energy efficiency challenges. Senztek has already gained a significant market presence in Australia and aims to take this technology to other markets including the UK and Europe. They are passionate about their technology and ability to grow export markets and become a substantial niche player on the world stage.

· M-Com Ltd - M-Com exports mobile banking and payments enterprise software to banks and other financial institutions in both emerging markets and developed societies. This software is enabling millions of bank customers to access their bank account and undertake all their day-to-day banking and payments, including international remittances, via their mobile phone. The platform can be deployed in house or via an saas model in which thousands of bank branches can operate off the same software.

· VnC Cocktails Ltd - VnC Cocktails manufactures a premium range of ready to pour cocktails. VnC has developed its cocktail range from the ground up using only the freshest ingredients and nothing artificial . The product range includes daiquiris', cosmopolitans, mojitos and margaritas. The ready to pour cocktail segment is the fastest growing segment of the global liquor industry. VnC Cocktails has the most internationally awarded range of drinks in this category as recognized through global tasting competitions, winning 6 gold medals. VnC Cocktails is a vertically integrated developer, manufacturer and marketer of products globally; new cocktail recipes are developed in house, manufactured in the company's plant in Tauranga and sold in over 15 countries. The New Zealand brand has greatly assisted in our success in these markets to date. VnC Cocktails is heavily export focused, fast growing and focused on successfully developing the world’s leading ready to pour cocktail brand.

· Sonar Ltd - Sonar6 has provided online performance management and succession planning solutions to companies around the world since 2004. Sonar6’s stunning graphics-based approach to performance reviews has won numerous awards and plaudits including naming as a Gartner Cool Vendor and inclusion in HR Executive’s Top Ten HR Products.

Endace Hi Tech Exporter of the Year

· Talking Tech - TALKINGtech was formed in 1986 and services a wide range of major mobile, telecommunications and utility companies all around the world. It is a New Zealand company with headquarters in Auckland and offices in Australia, North America, South Africa and the UK. The company's technology is designed to mainly send interactive voice messages to large customer bases. TALKINGtech has a range of products that help clients collect debt and overdue items, undertake marketing campaigns, complete surveys and gather data.TALKINGtech provide tailored solutions to suit a client's brand, market and needs. They have a proven record of consistently helping customers save time and money, increase revenue and enhance customer relationships.

· M-Com - M-Com exports mobile banking and payments enterprise software to banks and other financial institutions in both emerging markets and developed societies. This software is enabling millions of bank customers to access their bank account and undertake all their day-to-day banking and payments, including international remittances, via their mobile phone. The platform can be deployed in house or via an saas model in which thousands of bank branches can operate off the same software.

DB Breweries Deal of the Year

· Lomocean Design Ltd - LOMOcean is a naval architectural, yacht and boat design company. The company’s point of difference is a focus on designing to client brief and innovation in solution seeking. Following a decision to reduce dependency on the pleasure boat market by diversifying the company utilised its successful history and reputation in Asia to build a position as a designer of military craft. The company secured a deal to design a Navy vessel for coastal patrol and combat duties for an Asian nation. The judges were impressed by the significant impact the contract has on the company’s income and the future potential to leverage this expertise to secure further overseas contracts in the military sector.

· Flotech Group - The judges were impressed by Flotech’s focus on developing clever solutions for challenging gas compression projects. They have developed niche applications that differentiates their offer from other companies in the sector. This has resulted in them securing their largest ever deal - for supply of gas compressors into power generation sites in the Amazon Jungle of Brazil. The equipment was delivered on time, on budget and allows the power stations to run on high pressure gas rather than diesel, which delivers substantial fuel savings to the power stations. The success of this deal and a focus on continual improvement and staff development positions them well for the future.

Baldwins Intellectual Property Consultants & Services Exporter of the Year

· Lomocean Design Ltd - LOMOcean is perhaps best known as the designer of imaginative, high performance boats, such as Earthrace and Turanor Planet Solar. Its main income, however, is from custom designed yachts and pleasure boats and from specialised commercial craft, such as fire boats, research vessels and high speed interceptor craft for maritime law enforcement. The company’s strength is in its small team of highly skilled designers, naval architects and engineers. All projects are on a bespoke basis, with specific requirements carefully negotiated beforehand and constant interaction with the boat builders to ensure that the finished craft meets expectations. The judges were impressed with the team’s ability to deliver highly integrated designs. The number of repeat orders and referrals demonstrate that this company is truly world class.

· Rangitoto College - What sets Rangitoto apart is the size and diversity of their International student market. The success of which is the result of a service orientated business model which provides their students with access to a comprehensive range of services. The diversity provides insurance against single market fluctuations but also enriches the cultural and educational experience for International and local students.

The international office is a business, with dedicated staff providing not only pastoral care but also arranging sports, social and cultural activities, buddying programmes with Kiwi students and tours throughout New Zealand for the students and visiting family members. A sophisticated and carefully managed E-school database ensures students have ready access to key information and that teachers and international staff can track progress. Overseas agents and local homestays are also carefully managed so that students receive the best possible service.

Currently Rangitoto has 250 International students from 28 countries, representing 8% of the total school roll. A significant percentage of this is “repeat business”, from younger siblings and family friends. The judges were impressed that a marketing budget of only $180,000 yields not only revenue of $2.7 million in school fees, but a much greater Forex return through expenditure on homestays, entertainment and tourism.

· TalkingTech - TALKINGtech was formed in 1986 and services a wide range of major mobile, telecommunications and utility companies all around the world. It is a New Zealand company with headquarters in Auckland and offices in Australia, North America, South Africa and the UK. The company's technology is designed to mainly send interactive voice messages to large customer bases. TALKINGtech has a range of products that help clients collect debt and overdue items, undertake marketing campaigns, complete surveys and gather data.TALKINGtech provide tailored solutions to suit a client's brand, market and needs. They have a proven record of consistently helping customers save time and money, increase revenue and enhance customer relationships.

Good luck to all the finalists.

Thank you to everyone who entered whether you are a finalist or not; we know it takes time and courage; and we hope you will come to awards night to celebrate your own and others' achievements in exporting.

Tickets are on sale for the 2010 Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards dala dinner.
We will be crowning our grand masters of the export world at the dinner event on Friday, August 6 at luxury hotel The Langham Auckland. This is an opportunity to bring your family, staff, suppliers and/or key customers to an uplifting event where exporters are recognized for their daring and contribution to New Zealand as a whole.

Guests will dine sumptuously and be entertained by world class performer Darryl Lovegrove, MC, who will also sing hits from the roles he has taken in the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables and of course Chess.

Please email catherine@exportnewzealand.org.nz