Winners announced for Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards 2009

One in four cattle on US ranches carries an identification tag made by Auckland company Zee Tags Ltd, one of the winners in this year’s Air NZ Cargo Auckland Export Awards.

 

The four category winners are being announced at a gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency Auckland hotel on Friday, August 7. (Read their profiles at the end of this media statement.)

 

The four category winners are:

QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year Award (at least 20 per cent of revenue is from exports, administered from Auckland, and with outstanding foreign exchange growth)

 

· Endace Ltd - the company designs, develops, sells and supports high-speed systems to monitor Internet traffic looking for spyware and other web and email abuse. Endace.com

 

Westpac Emerging Exporter of the Year Award (exporting for less than three years)

 

Biomatters Ltd, a software developer providing an IT platform for use by all scientific researchers by converting raw data into meaningful, visual information. Biomatters.com

Consultants and Services Export Award (consulting services to offshore clients or support to New Zealand export businesses)

 

McKay Ltd, Whangarei-based firm that undertakes large complex projects anywhere in the south eastern Pacific Rim, in industries such as petrochemical, dairy, power generation, marine and aviation. Mckay.co.nz

Deal of the Year (closing a successful export deal securing a strong market position)

 

Zee Tags Ltd, Albany-based designer of identification tags worn on farm animal ears and also used in horticulture (vine/row numbers), as labels for hotel/motels keys, dog tags, luggage tags and event invitations. Zeetags.co.nz

Convenor of the eight judges, Hugh Cronwright, said: “Being involved in the Air New Zealand Cargo Export Awards is a great privilege, as we judges get to meet so many amazing companies and the people who have created them; people who have had the vision, courage, determination, and patience to follow their dream.

 

“This year was different in one key way - almost all of the companies who entered have been booming, not glooming. One entrant’s comment of ‘best year ever in our 25-year history’ is an example.

 

“Another company, instead of selling out to an overseas buyer - and they admit to offers - stepped out and bought their major offshore distributor: a total reversal of the norm.

 

“Without strong exporters we would not have the funds to pay for our vehicles, fuel, fashions, plasma TV sets and all the rest.

 

“The public recognition of exporters and exporting from these Awards is one small way their real value gets to be recognized and celebrated. A toast to them all!” Mr Cronwright said.

 

For other comments, contact: Catherine Mullane,

Export New Zealand Auckland , phone 09-367 0970, mob 021 636 219.

Or: Hugh Cronwright, convenor of judges, phone 09-476 1366, mob 021 154 6872

 

Winners’ profiles:

· QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year - Endace

(Other finalists were: Douglas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, A-Ward Attachments Ltd and Emerald Foods Ltd)

 

Endace designs, develops, sells and supports high speed packet capture technology, open development environments and multi-function network monitoring appliances. Endace solutions are built to capture every packet, of any size, on any network interface, up to speeds of 40Gbps.

Endace is a global business, selling products in over 40 countries, with regional sales, marketing and support operations in the US, UK and Singapore. Over 96% of Endace business is export.

Originating from research-generated out of Waikato University, Endace was established in 2001, and is listed on London's AIM stock exchange. The group company HQ is in Auckland, with a growing R&D facility in Hamilton.

Endace has taken New Zealand-developed intellectual property to the world, creating a world-beating product to a customer base of telcos, major governments and financial institutions. The judges were impressed by the commitment to innovate through customer interaction, strategic direction, research and development and total commitment to profitable export growth.

 

· Westpac Emerging Exporter of the Year Award - Biomatters

(Other finalists were: Samex Ltd, Go Virtual Medical Ltd, and Vesper Marine Ltd)

 

Biomatters' flagship product is Geneious, a software platform for the life sciences that combines all the major data types and functions from numerous incompatible programs into one application that assists scientists and researchers in their daily work. The concept has been expanded substantially, and commercialized over the past 3 years.

58% growth in sales in the past year has given a wonderful platform for further expansion.

Prestigious contracts such as those with University of California, Berkley and the Smithsonian Institute have given world-wide recognition to the team at Biomatters. In this contract, Biomatters will be the technology partner for an ambitious project that aims to map the entire ecosystem of over 30,000 species on the island of Moorea, Tahiti, using the Genious information system.

The judges took on board the way in which this program has so quickly become a “backbone” application spanning the spectrum of bioscience. The fact that it is New Zealand-developed has given added credibility to the software especially in the USA, where New Zealand’s reputation for innovation is well respected.

 

· Consultant and Services Exporter of the Year - McKay Ltd, Whangarei

(Other finalist: Fraser Thomas Ltd)

 

A few years ago, McKay was a medium sized electrical engineering company providing services to infrastructure clients in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. In 2003, the company began servicing the marine industry, took on specialist marine staff and started working on a super yacht project.

Six years later, McKay has 135 staff and a rapidly growing export business, with contracts involving some of the world’s biggest super yachts. From its base in Whangarei, it now has offices in the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

What makes McKay stand out is its commitment to quality and technical excellence, coupled with careful strategic planning. Its first US contract, for $3.2 million, has led to other, more lucrative projects. The company does little direct marketing. Most work comes from referrals or through attending conferences and “talking turkey” with other technical experts.

 

Currently, McKay has 5 engineers working on the biggest super yacht to be built in the US since the 1930s, and 23 based in Abu Dhabi (UAE) where the company is electrical installation manager for the world’s largest super yacht currently under construction.

 

McKay also undertakes contracts for the defense industry, including the electrical systems for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Project Protector Vessels, a contract won against international competition.

The judges commented on McKay’s high level of technical competence and active strategic planning. The company has an impressive process for monitoring current and potential work which feeds into planning for resourcing, cashflow, etc. They have successfully positioned themselves as a one-stop-shop for high-end technical design, manufacture and installation in the super yacht and naval patrol boat sectors, while maintaining a strong presence in the domestic infrastructure market, which provides income stability. McKay has built an enviable reputation in a relatively short time, by being focused and very good at what they do.

 

· Zee Tags - Deal of the Year

(Other finalist: Go Virtual Medical Ltd)

 

Zee Tags Ltd is a manufacturer of all types of animal and pet identification products; from innovatively designed ear tags through to electronic identification, pet microchip products and DNA tissue samplers. The products have been distributed for 18 years in the USA market and Zee Tags now supplies 1 in 4 of all ear tags used across the USA. They are also sold into more than 45 other countries around the world.

Zee Tags are known for their innovation, and are passionate about providing excellent solutions to on-farm management. Their latest item, a pump-action sheep tag applicator, was recently judged the most innovative piece of new equipment, out of 68 entries, at the 2009 Agricultural Field Days in Hamilton.

Three years after expansion into Australia, as part of a carefully planned and communicated expansion program, Zee Tags have taken over the entire USA Distribution operation with great support from their previous distributor. This helps to cement in their position in the market. It also allows a big opportunity for other products to be introduced into that market, and improves cost effectiveness of the product range. It is anticipated that this will result in a total sales expansion of some 130% in the current year.

Judges comment. In a time when so often we see great Kiwi Companies being sold to overseas ownership, it is so encouraging to find one doing the reverse, and taking ownership of its offshore distribution.