Sirron Holdings took pivoting to a new level when the covid pandemic hit in 2020. The Caves Beach-based business turned its commercial dishwasher factory into a disinfectant and sanitiser manufacturer and now markets 230 products.
Sirron then “cleaned up” in four categories at the 2022 Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA), winning gongs for Manufacturer of the Year (fewer than 50 staff), Collaboration Partnership, Innovation, and Marketing. HMA believes Sirron Holdings demonstrates the resilience and flexible approach needed to compete and succeed globally.
So does the business itself, and after taking on the pandemic, Sirron is now taking on the world. Its main offshore footprint is across the ditch in New Zealand where it exports its Norris commercial dishwashers and Zexa cleaning products to the hospitality sector. The land of the long white cloud also sells Sirron’s auto accessories range of products that are proving successful in Repco and Supercheap Auto franchises.
The other exciting development from a global perspective is the successful testing of a coronavirus “killer” in India. Sirron has been working with RGCB, the Indian equivalent of our CSIRO, testing the hospital-grade product. Managing director Greg Gates says Sirron has distribution and manufacturing agreements in place.
“We make a super concentrate here and ship it to India,” he says. “When made into a ready-to-use format it verifies the specific claim of ‘made in India’. Other chemical products are in the pipeline for this market.” From Caves Beach, for the world …
HMA represents all businesses actively engaged in the manufacturing sector, including their allies, in the Upper Hunter, Lower Hunter, Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, and Mid-North Coast regions. The awards inspire, encourage, and recognise vibrant and enduring manufacturing in these regions.
In recognising the growth of manufacturing in the Hunter and celebrating the innovations and commitment, HMA 2023 places a spotlight squarely on global reach. The organisation is keen to push the message of international opportunities and its tagline for 2023 is “made in the Hunter, for the world”.
Certainly, the Hunter’s industrial history and impressive transport infrastructure provide the region’s manufacturers with a compelling advantage as they make their forays into international markets. Although there are strong road, rail, and air links in the Hunter, the major competitive transport advantage is the Port of Newcastle.
HMA encourages the growing and diverse base of established and emerging manufacturers of the region to use this advantage, look beyond Australia, and take their products and services to the international market.
Mr Gates says Sirron is currently in a holding pattern in relation to the lucrative US market.
“We appreciate the potential,” he says. “And the US has accepted the range of auto products we sell in Australia and NZ. What I am clear about is that our products are world standard, and our ideas are attractive to North America. It’s a question of the best way to market them.”
