Star manufacturers honoured

Speaking at a formal Gala Dinner hosted by the Victorian Government and sponsored by EcoRecycle, Association for Manufacturing Excellence and Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited, Haermeyer said the State’s manufacturing industry provided significant input into Victoria’s economy.

“The manufacturing sector is Victoria’s main provider of jobs, exports and business research and development,” Haermeyer said.

“But we need to ensure manufacturing remains a major industry for Victoria’s future, by encouraging further research and development investment in this State.

“Business and governments have a role to play, with the Bracks Government facilitating significant R&D investment to Victoria.

“But for Australian companies to compete on a global scale the Federal Government needs to take leadership in this area by offering incentives and encouraging meaningful R&D for the manufacturing sector.”

“Sadly Australia languishes behind by other highly successful export nations like Sweden, Switzerland and Finland when it comes to R&D.

“We have a wealth of ingenuity and imagination but need further investment into R&D to turn that to competitive advantage.”

Haermeyer said the individuals and companies being honoured by the Victorian Hall of Fame had all made outstanding and sustained contributions to the sector and all represented great role models.

The two recipients of the Hall of Fame Honour Roll awards were:

· Dr Graeme Blackman, Chairman and Managing Director, Institute of Drug Technology (IDT) Australia Limited - Over the past twenty years Dr Blackman has not only built IDT Australia into a world-leading pharmaceutical company that develops and manufactures key ingredients for anti-cancer and other potent drugs but has also been a leader in developing Australia’s overall pharmaceutical and biotech industry; and

· Tony Schiavello, Managing Director, Schiavello Group Schiavello has seen his company become one of Australia’s top 500 private companies, employing nearly 1000 people and providing complete office-fit-out services to both Australian and, increasingly, international clients.

The 2005 Young Manufacturer of the Year is 29-year-old Heidi Edmiston who is a Continuous Improvement Coach/Day Shift Section Manager at Kraft.

Edmiston’s responsibilities include maintaining safety, quality and taste of Kraft’s biscuits.

Edmiston’s success and enthusiasm have also seen her chosen as an ambassador for the manufacturing industry through the Victorian Government’s Make Something of Yourself careers in manufacturing program.

The ten companies inducted into the Hall of Fame for sustained manufacturing excellence were: APS Plastics (product design), Davey Products (pumping equipment), D&D Global Group (printing), Ford Australia (motor vehicles), Hawker de Havilland (aviation), Jayco Corporation (camping vehicles), Kingfisher International (IT products), MasterFoods (quality snacks), Production Parts (aerospace engineering), and Tenix (shipbuilding).

“These ten companies range from small businesses to multinationals. They cover a wide spectrum of industries, and in some cases they have grown from tiny backyard operations to thriving global enterprises,” Haermeyer said.

“The commitment, capabilities and achievements these companies represent form the cornerstone of Victoria’s world class manufacturing base.”

The Hall of Fame was established by the Bracks Government in partnership with key industry associations as part of the $27 million Agenda for New Manufacturing.

“It forms part of our drive to position Victoria as a key centre of Asia Pacific manufacturing excellence,” Haermeyer said.

The 2005 Hall of Fame Gala Dinner received assistance from eight supporters in addition to the main sponsors including Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (AEEMA), Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria (SEAV), Australian Industry Group, South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance Inc (SEMMA), National Manufacturing Week, Curve magazine, RealTek and MiniFab.