News - 2010 AIMEX Export Awards Winners

The 2010 Australian Marine Industry Export Awards was showcased at Sydney’s Darling Harbour last Thursday week, with 21 excellent award applicants, said event organiser Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX).

Exporter of the Year – Seawind Catamarans also took out the award category ‘Best Marine Industry Export Marketing Strategy’.

Seawind Catamarans is Australia’s largest and most successful designer and builder of ocean-capable cruising sailing catamarans and is now one of the most respected brand names in the sailing world, both in Australia and overseas, said AIMEX. “Seawind has always considered itself as a global company and export their models all over the world and, in 2009, these exports accounted for 40 per cent of production by dollar value,” it said.

Due to the high-calibre of award entries, AIMEX said Highly Commended Awards were given in many categories. In the category ‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance’ Aqualuma Underwater Lighting, GME and Ronstan International, all highly successful exporters with well-known international brands, were awarded High Commendation for their Export Marketing Strategies.

‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance’ in the Small Category (export sales less than $500K) was awarded to Ark Corporation. AIMEX said Ark has persisted and continued overseas exposure through trade shows, their website and various other media channels. “Ark has established distribution of their product through seven countries. Export sales represent approximately 2.7 per cent of their overall sales,” it said.

Sydney based Spear Green Design was awarded a High Commendation award in the above category. Spear Green Design has been involved in marine design and management projects in more than 15 countries.

AIMEX said South Australia based Hydrive Engineering won ‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance’ in the Medium Category (export sales between $500K and $2 million). “Hydrive Engineering, a global leader in the field of boat steering equipment, boast half of HyDrive Engineering’s production staff and all sales and management are involved in their export efforts,” it said.

Following closely behind, Britton Marine was awarded a High Commendation award in that category. AIMEX said Britton Marine, which has a solid international reputation, is a major supplier of inflatable craft for the Australian and New Zealand navies and has also designed, built and patented diesel-driven large firefighting pumps for military applications. “In the last six years, Britton Marine have successfully developed markets in UAE, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and New Zealand,” AIMEX said.

The award winner for ‘Best Marine Industry Export Performance’ in the Large Category (export sales of more than $2 million) was awarded to Tasmania’s Muir Engineering.

“Muir Engineering is a leading global manufacturer of marine anchor winches and windlasses, anchoring and docking systems, and deck equipment for super and mega yachts, pleasurecraft, fast ferries and commercial vessels from five to 140m in length,” said AIMEX. “In 2009, Muir’s export sales were 74 per cent of their total sales.”

Managing director of Muir Engineering, John Muir was awarded ‘Marine Industry Export Champion’ for his significant service and contribution to the marine industry, considered still at the ‘coal face’ of his business where he has been for the last 40 years.

Also awarded High Commendation Awards in the Export Performance Large Category were GME, Seawind Catamarans and Superior Jetties.

AIMEX said Marine Sanitation was awarded Winner of the ‘Most Environmentally Friendly Marine Industry Exported Product’. “Marine Sanitations service is to provide the design, manufacture, installation and servicing of both the dockside-discharge units and the portable toilet emptying units.

2010 AIMEX Export Awards winners

EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Winner – Seawind Catamarans

MOST INNOVATIVE MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORTED PRODUCT
Winner – FinScan Pty Ltd
Highly Commended – Aqualuma Underwater Lighting
Highly Commended -
Britton Marine (Aust) Pty Ltd
Highly Commended - MultiPanel Pty Ltd

BEST MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORT MARKETING STRATEGY
Winner – Seawind Catamarans
Highly Commended – Aqualuma Underwater Lighting
Highly Commended – GME
Highly Commended – Ronstan International Pty Ltd

BEST MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORT PERFORMANCE SMALL EXPORTER
Winner – Ark Corporation Pty Ltd
Highly Commended – Spear Green Design

BEST MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORT PERFORMANCE MEDIUM EXPORTER
Winner – Hydrive Engineering Pty Ltd
Highly Commended – Britton Marine (Aust) Pty Ltd

BEST MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORT PERFORMANCE LARGE EXPORTER
Winner – Muir Engineering Pty Ltd
Highly Commended – Seawind Catamarans
Highly Commended – GME
Highly Commended – Superior Jetties

MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORT CHAMPION
Winner – John Muir, Muir Engineering Pty Ltd

MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MARINE INDUSTRY EXPORTED PRODUCT
Winner – Marine Sanitation Pty Ltd

Photos: Kylie Hargreaves, NSW Government, Executive Director International Markets and Trade Industry and Investment, and Richard Ward, Seawind Catamarans Director; Tim Ryan, FGI Regional Sales Manager, with Marcus Laugier, Director Marine Sanitation; Greg Fisher, Club Marine CEO with Mark Garabedian, Ark Corporation; Richard Chapman, Hydrive Engineering with Greg Fisher, Club Marine CEO; John Muir, Muir Engineering with Greg Fisher, Club Marine CEO.