Solar hot water system steals judges' heart

Welshpool-based Solahart Industries Pty Ltd last night won the Premier's Award for Excellence at the 2009 Western Australian Industry and Export Awards.

Science and Innovation Minister Troy Buswell said Solahart was a WA success story and a prime example of a local business making a valuable contribution to the State's economic development. 

"From its beginnings here in Perth in 1953, Solahart has grown into an Australian household name," Mr Buswell said.

"The company's expansion into exports some 30 years ago has seen Solahart sell 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.

"Exports are important to WA's overall economic development.  Since the awards began 21 years ago, our State's yearly export figures have grown significantly and now contribute 38 per cent, or $86.8billion, towards Australia's total merchandise exports - more than double that of other States.  

"This growth has been helped by the hard work and innovation of companies, just like Solahart and the other award winners, whose commitment to identifying new market opportunities locally, nationally and internationally create positive benefits for the State."

The winners of the 2009 WA Industry and Export Awards are:

• Premier's Award for Excellence - Solahart Industries Pty Ltd, Welshpool

INDUSTRY CATEGORIES

·             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 CATEGORIES

·             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, whose headquarters are in WA, designs and manufactures down- hole products for the oil and gas industry and has offices in Aberdeen, Scotland and Dubai.

·             Large Advanced Manufacturer Export Award - Solahart Industries Pty Ltd, Welshpool

Special commendation: Matrix Composites and Engineering Limited, Malaga

·             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, based in Osborne Park, is a worldwide supplier of revenue management systems for the amusement, entertainment and leisure industries.

Special Commendation: MetroCount, Hamilton Hill

·             Minerals and Energy Export Award - Alcoa, Kwinana

         Alcoa operates the world's largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminum smelting system in Australia.

Special Commendation: Panoramic Resources Limited, Perth

·             Services Export Award - Silverise Pty Ltd, Maddington

         Silverise is the biggest raise bore drilling consumable manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the two biggest 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.

The 2009 awards, administered by the Department of Commerce, are sponsored by Austrade, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Craig Mostyn Group, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, Fremantle Ports, Rio Tinto and The West Australian newspaper.