Rio Tinto Iron Ore wins coveted Premier's Award for Excellence

15/10/05
One of Australia's leading exporters, Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO), has won the coveted Premier's Award for Excellence at the 2005 Western Australian Industry and Export Awards.
Premier Geoff Gallop said Rio Tinto Iron Ore, which represented one-quarter of the world's seaborne-traded iron ore supply, had developed the capability to bring on additional resources in the fastest and most cost-effective manner to meet the demands of a booming global industry.
Dr Gallop presented the company with the major prize at a gala awards presentation held last night.
"Rio Tinto Iron Ore is to be congratulated for achieving this award, which recognises the efforts the company has made to develop an internal structure that ensures the Pilbara operations are managed in the most efficient and flexible manner, with a capability for further expansion," he said.
"The company holds a strategic advantage through long-term relationships and a range of joint ventures with steel and trading industry partners.
"Future growth will ensure Rio Tinto continues to deliver an outstanding economic and community benefit to WA."
The Western Australian Industry and Export Awards are the leading business awards in the State, with the Premier's Award for Excellence being awarded for outstanding performance and overall excellence.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore also received the Minerals and Energy Export Award and is now a finalist, along with other export category winners, in the National Export Awards to be held in Sydney in December.
The Premier also congratulated the 14 category winners in the awards and said their efforts helped the State reach all-time record levels of exports.
"The August 2005 trade figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that WA now accounts for a record 31.2 per cent of the nation's exports," he said.
"The nominal value of our exports have increased 23.3 per cent over the year to August to reach a record $40.6billion, outstripping the national average of 16.5 per cent."
Other category winners in this year's awards were:
Industry Award recipients:
C Y O' Connor Award for Excellence in Engineering and Technology -
Commtech Wireless
Recognised as the standard for wireless messaging within Australia's healthcare and hospitality industries, Commtech Wireless' technology is now used at more than 4,500 sites in more than 50 countries around the world. Listed on the BRW Fast100, Commtech Wireless' extraordinary growth has aided the establishment of five offices across three continents.
Marketing and Design Excellence Award -
Gold Corporation
Since its creation in 1987, Gold Corporation, operator of The Perth Mint, has sold more than 14 million coins, representing 545 tonnes of Australian precious metals, of which 12 million coins valued at an estimated $2.7billion have been exported to the United States, Europe and eastern Europe, Asia, Japan, the Solomon Islands and the Middle East.
Special Commendation: Bay Merchants.
Innovation Excellence Award -
Neptune Marine Services
Neptune Marine Services Ltd is commercialising the patented Neptune Dry Underwater Welding System. The system allows permanent in-situ weld repairs to be carried out underwater at a fraction of the cost of using conventional permanent repair methods. The technology has broad application in markets including shipping, oil and gas, infrastructure, defence and hazardous environments.
Export Award recipients:
Emerging Exporter Award -
Tyco Water
Tyco Water is a premier manufacturer and developer of world-class products and services for the water supply industry. Recently they secured their first major export contract into the Middle East, beating international competition to win a significant deal worth $50million. Their world-class Kwinana manufacturing facility was established in 1960 and is the only one of its type in WA.
Small to Medium Manufacturer Export Award -
Mt Romance Australia
Mt Romance has established a proven market and IP model with the major consumers of essential oils, global fragrance houses. This will form the basis to commercialise new ingredients currently in development. In 2004-05, Mt Romance achieved significant financial results, with gross income increasing by 26 per cent. Profit before tax was 74 per cent higher than 2003-04 and surged to 24 per cent of gross revenue.
Large Advanced Manufacturer Export Award -
Gold Corporation
Agribusiness Export Award -
WAMMCO International
Located in Katanning, WAMMCO International is a farmer-owned meat processing co-operative, specialising in the processing and export of chilled and frozen lamb products. Facing shortages of livestock supply and record prices for lambs, WAMMCO has posted a solid year of sales, including a significant increase into the premium US market, which now ranks as the co-operative's largest single export market for lamb.
Information and Communications Export Award -
MetroCount
MetroCount is the global leader in the manufacture of portable traffic monitoring equipment and software. Exported to more than 45 countries, MetroCount's very popular 5600 Series Vehicle Classifier uses simple rubber pneumatic tube combined with sophisticated software, to give the traffic engineer unmatched versatility with invaluable road statistics.
Minerals and Energy Export Award -
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pty Ltd
Services Export Award -
Risktec Australasia
Incident and emergency response professionals Risktec Australasia is rapidly becoming recognised as the premium supplier of Emergency Management Training in the oil and gas sector throughout South-East Asia, and indeed globally. With the customised computer modelling of clients' facilities, and an understanding of cultural and political issues in the countries in which the company operates, Risktec is set to exceed growth expectations in the coming year.
Education Export Award -
Risktec Australasia
Arts and Entertainment Export Award -
Storyteller Media Group Pty Ltd
Storyteller, with its high-quality television documentaries, has won more than 40 international and Australian excellence awards over the past 16 years. Storyteller specialises in nature and historical documentaries to suit a wide range of interests and ages. It has recently completed international co-productions including 'Animal X - The Natural Mystery Unit', starring veteran Australian actor Bill Kerr.
Tourism Export Award -
North Star Cruises Australia Pty Ltd
North Star Cruises Australia Pty Ltd has won national awards and is the Kimberley's longest established cruise operator. The luxurious adventure-cruise ship True North was launched in early 2005 and features a full-time helicopter, multiple expedition boats and fine dining. Other destinations include Ningaloo, Rowley Shoals, Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea.
Regional Exporter of the Year -
WAMMCO International
Hall of Fame -
Mt Romance Australia Pty Ltd
Premier's Award for Excellence -
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pty Ltd
The 2005 WA Industry and Export Awards, administered by the Department of Industry and Resources, are sponsored by Austal, Austrade, BankWest, Ernst and Young, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC), Fremantle Ports and The West Australian, and are endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WA), Unions WA and the Australian Institute of Export (WA) Ltd.
Premier's office: 9222 9475