From cobots to crushers, and CarPlay to customisation, there is a cohort of up-and-comers keeping the future of Hunter manufacturing in safe hands.
Jess Hodge, for example, is plastic fantastic. We all know plastic waste is a blight on our environment, but as co-founder with husband Geoff of Kurri Kurri company Resourceful Living, Jess is “manufacturing change”. In reducing plastic pollution, the company is boosting business in the Hunter and beyond.
Resourceful Living transforms plastic waste into sustainable furniture and products for the building industry. It takes tonnes of discarded plastic, shreds it, heat-presses it, and cuts it into items ranging from furniture to clocks and even skirting boards. Its process, “from pollution to practical”, can take as little as two days.
“I’m young, Geoff is young, and we’re still a young business,” says Jess. They commenced operations in 100-square-metre premises in Beresfield three years ago.
“We had a two-year lease and said ‘OK, let’s give this a go, and see what we can manufacture’,” she says. “Geoff is a mechanical and materials engineer, which is very helpful when dealing with plastics, and we have complementary skills. I can look after admin and marketing, and he looks after the engineering. We work really well together.”
In February last year, Resourceful Living moved into a 2600m2 factory in Kurri Kurri.
“It’s kind of mind-blowing when I walk out into our new factory and see two squares of concrete, which used to be the entire size of our old factory,” says Jess.
The business is also in stage one of expansion, adding two new processing machines and conveyor belts. The new equipment will increase capacity from 50 tonnes of plastic waste a year to close to 1000 tonnes. From that, it will look to manufacture about two tonnes a day.
The expansion is purely demand driven. Its two smaller machines hit capacity, creating a month to six-week turnaround. The other aspect of the expansion is the addition of a big crusher with the ability to manage 40-litre drums of waste and full plastic chairs. It will negate having to cut up the bigger items first and enable the processing of 250 tonnes a month.
“We’re changing the business into a real circular operation,” says Jess. “The way the waste will come to us in buckets in its original form, such as chairs or bottles, and we will churn it into useful materials using our press, 3D printer, and injection moulding machine.”
Resourceful Living has four fulltime employees but aims to increase that to 25 in the next two years, hiring every month to have enough people manning all the machines.
“I’m trying to keep it all local and we can all be proud of our backyard,” says Jess.
The expanding market is big corporates in Australia and New Zealand fitting out offices and kitchens.
“We’ve started doing a lot of work for Sportsgirl,” says Jess. “It’s redoing all its stores nationally and has provided us with fitting room numbers.”
Resourceful Living is also collaborating with concreting firms on form work.
“I didn’t realise that formply isn’t great in wet weather,” she says. “Much of our repurposed plastic manufactured sheets are now going into concreting and the building industry where they can have multiple uses. If it rains, our sheets don’t swell, which is an annoying property of ply. And if the builders don’t have a use for our sheets, they can send them back to our factory.”
Resourceful Living is forever thankful to the HMA. The awards created a networking opportunity that enabled Geoff and Jess to find other manufacturers in the region, some of whom have been mentors.
“No one’s doing exactly what we’re doing but it’s great to find people who are trying to make something from a raw product,” she says. “We won the HMA outstanding start-up in 2022, which was just incredible. And then last year we won for best partnership. That is with Hunter New England Health. We take a lot of its waste and transform it into different products.
“We now have associations with a great group of people. We’re all manufacturing, but it can be hard to find people. Deeps Engineering in Salamander Bay is amazing, and we met them at the 2022 HMA. Our relationship developed organically from there.”
There’s no shortage of waste plastic and Resourceful Living is narrowing the radius of its supply area.
“We source our waste from hospitals, councils, and businesses,” says Jess. “It’s actually blowing my mind how much business waste is out there. I guess it’s out of sight out of mind unless you’re at the business. And we still purchase some plastic from the big recyclers that have the council and business contracts.
“I can’t believe that we used to ask our friends and family for plastic waste,” says Jess. “The business has grown so much; I don’t have enough friends now. We’re trying to be one step ahead of that growth path. And I can’t believe I’m going to have conveyor belts.”
Curtis Gibson is general manager of AE Gibson & Sons, which has been designing and manufacturing special purpose machinery for its customers for more than 100 years. Its clients use Gibson machinery and technology in their manufacturing and processing facilities to produce goods for their own markets.
Curtis was last year’s HMA rising star co-winner. He is steeped in history, but it is the future of manufacturing in an ever-changing world that excites him.
“Technologies such as automation, robotics, and machine learning AI are providing solutions to many of the challenges facing Australian manufacturers,” he says. “They provide the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing market needs.”
A common misconception and a legacy from decades past, is that automation and robotics is complex and expensive. But many manufacturers now use automation and robotic technologies due to their lower costs and ease of implementation.
Gibson machinery is legendary, widely recognised for its high quality, and built tough for long-term reliability, but times change and in recent years the business accepted its machinery also had to be smarter and more flexible to support the changing needs of its customers.
“That’s where automation and robotics have made an enormous impact on our business, and for our customers, improving efficiency, productivity, and safety,” says Curtis.
AE Gibson & Sons has now assisted many manufacturers develop methods and processes using automation, robotics, advanced sensing, and machine learning AI. Many Gibson machines and automated systems focus on manufacturing tasks that may be difficult, dirty, or dangerous for humans to perform.
“If we can automate those tough tasks, it provides manufacturers an opportunity to redeploy staff onto higher value-add activities, increasing overall capacity and flexibility to address new customers and new markets,” says Curtis. “The benefits also flow into reduced WHS incidents, and more fulfilling work for a business’s biggest asset – its people.
“We recently helped a manufacturer of timber panels use robots for the handling and stacking of the heavy panels. This freed up the process workers who were then deployed elsewhere in the plant for the high-value finishing of the timber panels.”
Mr Gibson says modern industrial robots can work alongside people and perform supportive tasks rather than replacing them.
“The ‘cobots’ work collaboratively with humans to enable the workers to be more effective, productive, and safe,” he says.
AE Gibson & Sons recently engineered new machine learning AI-based technologies to identify production issues and defects, and to improve the accuracy and efficacy of production processes.
“We were able to use a smart-sensor system to look for defects on products being processed at high speed,” he says. “This is something that is very difficult for a human to see. The machine learning AI software was taught with examples of good and not-so-good products, and is now able to automatically identify the defects, and eject the bad products from the process.”
Toby Shaward is the manager of engineering at Elecbrakes and says the business has grown substantially in the three years he has worked there.
Elecbrakes revolutionised towing in Australasia when it developed a trailer-mounted brake controller that provides proportional braking in concert with its app/remote/CarPlay. This provides seamless control without additional wiring in the vehicle cab.
“I’ve actually been a part of the HMA as well,” he says. “We’ve been consistent in winning accolades over the past few years, which is always exciting.”
Not only has Elecbrakes grown considerably, but it has also grown quickly.
“When I started, we were in a warehouse and there were only two engineers,” says Toby. “We are now in a bigger, modern manufacturing facility with about 40 people and five engineers. The scope of what we do is growing exponentially, which is really cool to see. In terms of the manufacturing capabilities, where we have come from to where we are now is just night and day.”
Toby worked for the first few years as an automation engineer – introducing new processes and looking at the way Elecbrakes went about its business. When he started in manufacturing, much of the work was done by hand. It was designed out of the garage and labour intensive.
“The biggest ‘skill’ we have added is to look at our processes, step back, and ask how we can do this better?” says Toby. “It may be a process, it may be tooling, or it might even be design, but we’re now constantly reassessing.”
Elecbrakes has also developed a collaborative nature when it assesses itself. And it’s usually the result of a big challenge. It’s in the fortunate position where asking how it can do better is not related to faltering sales. Rather, it’s part of the scaling-up process.
“We ask ourselves, how do we provide this product with the processes we have right now to scale-up by two, by five, or by 10. That will always be the question mark. This year has been really exciting because we’ve actually created systems that will enable us to scale to five-times and 10-times. That allows us to go into other markets.
“We have developed a feedback loop. It’s a cultural thing. We can all challenge each other’s processes and approaches.”
Elecbrakes is concentrating on consolidation and continual assessment while bringing some exciting products to market. One of the big challenges for Elecbrakes is having to sell a wiring loom with every brake controller. To manufacture it requires an intensive manual process.
“That’s a key issue for us as we scale,” says Toby. “We can build a million brake controllers, but if we have to also sell a million wiring harnesses, we’d need an army to do that.”
The issue is incompatibility of trailer points around Australia. Western Australia uses round trailer plugs, but the east coast uses 12-flat or seven. The problem for owners is that their towing vehicle often has a version that differs from their trailer. That requires figuring out about 11 combinations.
“If we’re going to sell 10,000 brake controllers, we have to have 11 different types ready to go for those units,” says Toby. “That’s the challenge. And as you scale, it just becomes unwieldy.”
But a business that continually assesses its operations is now making it easier for customers.
“We went back to the drawing board on configuring those adapters and completely automating that process,” he says. “It’s a great example of our approach. An easy solution would have been to access the equipment to create the wiring looms. But we said, ‘no, let’s redesign the whole thing’. And that enables us to get into position where scaling won’t be an issue. We want to make it easy for everybody to use out product.”
And there are payoffs. Not only does the design change have a positive effect on production, but the end product is also much better. Customers hooking up trailers no longer have to ask if they have the wires around the right way.
The other big Elecbrakes release this year is the world-first Android Auto CarPlay. It means all Elecbrakes control units, going back to the originals, can connect to the head unit.
“It’s something we’re really excited about,” says Toby. “It’s just another way our product can seamlessly integrate for the end user. If you have a nice new car, you probably don’t want to have to modify the dash. Now, it’s all in the head unit.”
Toby started as an automation engineer and recently moved into managing engineering as well. He commends Elecbrakes on fostering growth and encouraging development.
“It always asks, ‘how can we give you the training you need to be able to do your job better?’” he says. “It’s really encouraging. Elecbrakes offers self-development across the board. It’s not even just specific to the role. ‘How can you become a more rounded individual, not only so you can become a better engineer, but just to be a better team member?’”
Lilly Großstück is a structural/civil engineer and has worked for Advitech for the past three-and-a-half years. She completed a Bachelor in Structural and Civil Engineering at the University of Applied Science in Stuttgart, Germany in 2018, came to Australia in 2019 for an exchange at the University of Newcastle, and then returned to German to complete a Master in Geotechnics and Tunnelling.
“After I finished my degree in Germany, I decided to move to Australia in March 2020, only two weeks before the borders shut due to Covid,” says Lilly. “It was very challenging to find a job during the pandemic, being a foreign female in a male-dominated industry, and without any contacts.”
Advitech hired Lilly as a graduate structural engineer on a casual basis in December 2020. Four months later it offered a permanent position and in November 2021, Advitech promoted Lilly to structural engineer.
In June 2022, changes within the structural team left Lilly in a challenging situation professionally, personally, and ethically. With less than two years’ experience, the opportunity to step up and take on more responsibility challenges was daunting, but Lilly took it on.
“I decided to stay with Advitech and to stretch my capabilities to continue delivering ongoing projects, maintain relationships with existing clients, and win new projects with new customers,” she says.
“I am very grateful for the support of the Emergent Group family during this difficult time and for the experiences I gained, which provided the opportunity to grow professionally and personally.
Nominating me for the HMA Rising Star award was just one way the Emergent Group recognised my efforts and contributions to the company, and I am very proud that I was selected to be a finalist for this category.”
Lilly is proud of the Emergent Group’s influence on manufacturing. Advitech is working on a proof of concept for a novel waste-management system for the health sector. Sister company in Emergent Group, Novecom, manufactures environmental monitoring devices and controllers for the mining and agriculture sectors. And the third company in the group, Acubis, produces portable trailers customised with communications equipment for remote sites.
Lilly’s manufacturing experience as a structural engineer includes input into customised and recurrent design for products.
“Manufacturing cannot exist on its own,” she says. “It is important to consider the whole life cycle of a product. It is also important to deliver the product to the customer in a safe and functional state, and to continue to monitor it and provide regular maintenance. The challenge is to connect all these steps with each other and to create a network between everyone involved in the manufacturing process.”
For Lilly, preparing a design as a structural engineer means communicating with the fabricator, the builder, the end-user, and with the people who are going to maintain the structure.
Curtis Gibson believes Australian manufacturers face multiple challenges in the current economic conditions. These include speed to market, production flexibility, labour availability and skills, supply chains, input costs, and opportunities to develop new products including new markets. But he also believes technologies such as automation, robotics, and machine learning AI provide solutions.
Also providing solutions are the initiatives of the likes of himself, Jess and Geoff Hodge, Toby Shaward, and Lilly Großstück – the faces of Hunter manufacturing’s future.
New in 2024, here forever!
We are thrilled to invite submissions for the inaugural HMA Hall of Fame Award.
This is a HMA Board-appointed accolade, intended to honour a sustained and significant contribution to the manufacturing sector in our region by an individual or organisation.
We are taking a dual approach to finding potential candidates – HMA Board members and members of the manufacturing community will all have the opportunity to forward a nomination on behalf of the person or organisation they believe is deserving of this recognition.
This will be an open-style submission, with a guide content of 300-500 words, which should focus on some or all of the following reasons:
Please send your nominations to info@hma.org.au by August 9.
The recipient will be informed ahead of the Gala night, to ensure they have the opportunity to bring their family or supporters along – what a lovely opportunity for you to be the reason an amazing advocate for manufacturing in our region is acknowledged by and in front of their peers!
Thank you to our Hall of Fame sponsor Civmec.
Calling All Local Manufacturers: Design (and Manufacture) the Next Hunter Manufacturing Awards Trophies!
The Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) is excited to announce an exclusive opportunity for local manufacturers to leave a lasting mark on our prestigious event. We are inviting the brilliant minds of our manufacturing community to design and manufacture the trophies for the upcoming Hunter Manufacturing Awards.
Opportunity to Shine
This year, we are taking a unique approach by integrating the creativity and expertise of our local manufacturing community directly into the awards. This is not just a chance to design a trophy but an opportunity to showcase your innovative capabilities and craftsmanship on a significant platform that celebrates the best in manufacturing.
How to Participate
Interested participants are encouraged to submit their design concepts along with a brief outlining their team’s capacity to both design and manufacture the trophy. We are looking for a design that can be embraced for at least the next three years, representing the innovation and excellence of our industry.
Submission Details
Design and Manufacturing Collaboration
HMA requires that each submission be backed by a partnership between the designer and a manufacturer, ensuring the feasibility of production. Designs submitted without a manufacturing partner will not be considered. The production costs for the first year are to be borne by the entrants, which can be a joint effort between the designer and manufacturer. Future years may explore a shared cost arrangement.
Design Criteria
The board will select the winning entry based on creativity, feasibility of production, and alignment with the values and aesthetics of the HMA. The winner will be decided at the discretion of the HMA board, and all participants are encouraged to bring their most innovative and practical ideas forward. HMA will not accept designs without a partnering manufacturer and maker, as the project and process need to be coordinated by the interested parties.
What’s in it for You?
For the first year, the cost of production will be covered by the winning entrant. This provides a fantastic opportunity for the winner to gain extensive exposure and recognition: your name and contribution will be highlighted in the lead-up to, and during, the awards ceremony, providing invaluable promotion within the industry. A shared cost arrangement could be explored in future years, based on the success and feedback from this initiative.
HMA’s Support
To assist you in your design process, HMA will provide photographs of previous years’ trophies (see below), as well as the HMA logo and specifications for the name plates that need to be incorporated into the design.
Timeline for Production
All 15 trophies must be manufactured and delivered in time for the HMA award night on October 18. This tight timeline emphasises the need for efficiency and reliability in production to ensure everything is ready for this celebrated event.
Keeping the Design a Surprise
While the winner will be announced in late August, the design of the trophy will be kept under wraps until the awards night on October 18, adding an element of surprise and excitement to the event.
This is more than a competition; it’s a showcase for your business and a chance to contribute to the legacy of the Hunter Manufacturing Awards. We can’t wait to see the creativity and innovation our talented community will bring to these awards. Join us in celebrating manufacturing excellence and submit your design today!
Please send your expressions of interest and design concept(s) to info@hma.org.au by August 9.
Unlock substantial savings available exclusively to the HMA community through Helloworld Business Travel Newcastle.
Helping local manufacturers prosper, support business growth, and drive substantial bottom-line savings, this unique program opens up opportunities for our local manufacturers all around the world.
Helloworld Hunter Travel Group is the Hunter Region’s largest travel management company and the HMA Airfare Advantage Program is available exclusively through Helloworld Business Travel Newcastle in Hunter Street.
The HMA Airfare Advantage Program also incorporates the Virtuoso Hotel Program. Through this offer, all bookings come with exclusive perks at no additional cost. There are over 1,500 hotels that can be booked and you’ll also have access to many independent luxury hotels that you otherwise may not have been aware of.
Flight deals include:
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA DOMESTIC (WITHIN AUSTRALIA)
UNITED INTERNATIONAL – USA/CANADA
QATAR NETWORK WORDWIDE
SINGAPORE AIRLINES NETWORK WORDWIDE
While the perks and benefits may change from hotel to hotel, they almost always include:
Download the program overview here.
To request more information on this exclusive HMA Program, please contact Shaun Houston at Helloworld Business Travel Newcastle on 02 4940 2244 OR email shaun.houston@HTG.com.au TODAY!
Join us for an unforgettable night as we celebrate 20 years of excellence in manufacturing at the 2024 Hunter Manufacturing Awards. This milestone event promises to be a night to remember, honouring the achievements of the past two decades and looking forward to the future of manufacturing in the Hunter region.
About the Awards Night:
Date: Friday October 18, 2024
Time: Arrive at 6.15pm for a 7.00pm start
Venue: NEX – King Street, Newcastle
Inclusions: Canapés, main and dessert, 4 hour drinks package
Dress: Black Tie/After 5 – with a splash of GOLD!
A block of tickets will be reserved to ensure that each finalist will have access to securing a minimum of 2 tickets once announced.
This year’s event is more than just an awards ceremony; it’s a celebration of the remarkable journey of the Hunter manufacturing community over the past 20 years.
Ticket sales close at 5pm Friday 11th October.
Contact: Adrienne Donnelly – info@hma.org.au or 0404 163 320
We look forward to welcoming you to the 2024 Hunter Manufacturing Awards. Let’s celebrate two decades of innovation, success, and excellence in manufacturing together!
Secure your tickets now and join us for a night of celebration, inspiration, and networking!
Boost Your Manufacturing Business with Strategic Marketing
Join us for an exclusive event designed to empower your manufacturing business with cutting-edge marketing strategies. Hosted by the Hunter Manufacturing Awards, this event features industry experts who will share insights on leveraging marketing to enhance your business growth and visibility. Each presenter will bring their top tips for manufacturers and participate in a panel discussion, allowing you to ask questions and discover what may work best for your business. If you’re a CEO or marketing professional looking to grow your business through marketing, this event is for you.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 10th July
Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Venue: HunterNet – 470 King Street, Newcastle
RSVP: https://events.humanitix.com/how-to-market-your-manufacturing-business
Cost: $35 per person
Agenda Highlights
Why Attend?
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your marketing skills and grow your business. Reserve your spot today!
Click here to register to attend.
The Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) proudly commemorates its 20th year in 2024, a landmark anniversary that underlines the Hunter region’s integral contribution to the Australian manufacturing sector.
The recent winners from the 2023 Awards, Hi-Vis Group and Senquip, demonstrate the competitive edge and innovative spirit that are the hallmarks of manufacturing in the Hunter.
Carrington-headquartered Hi-Vis won the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year – 50 Employees or More Award, along with the Excellence in Sustainable Operations Award and the Excellence in Manufacturing Capability Award.
As a market leader in highly intelligent visual information systems (HIVIS), its products have been keeping Australians safe for more than 40 years. Hi-Vis has made significant investments in manufacturing technology and enjoys a close relationship with the University of Newcastle.
Hi-Vis CEO Brett Watson said the company was deeply honoured and felt very privileged to win three awards.
The other major award winner, for Manufacturer of the Year – Less than 50 Employees, was telemetry products maker Senquip. The Port Stephens-based business manufactures telemetry equipment that monitors and controls remote machinery in harsh industrial environments.
Senquip also picked up the Excellence in Product Design Award. Its patented telemetry products are highly adaptable and replace the need for bespoke solutions. Senquip sells globally with significant potential for growth in each of its international markets.
Highlighting the diversity and adaptability of the region, reusable menstrual disc maker Hey Zomi, took out the 2023 Excellence in Marketing Award. Co-founder Zoe Fehlberg said “she loved” that the awards celebrate manufacturers across all industries, including period care.
“It’s so exciting at this stage of our business to be recognised as manufacturing leaders in our region,” Ms Fehlberg said. “To us, this award validates our vision – to create strong innovation with the highest-quality Australian manufacturing that empowers menstruators everywhere.”
Jacqui Daley, Chair of the HMA board, expressed her enthusiasm for the 20th anniversary, stating, “Twenty years is a significant milestone for the Hunter Manufacturing Awards, reflecting not just the longevity but also the progressive vision of the Hunter’s manufacturing community. We have consistently witnessed our local manufacturers adapt, innovate, and excel, setting standards for the industry nationwide. As we celebrate this anniversary, we look forward to fostering even more success stories and paving the way for the next generation of manufacturing excellence.”
For more information on the HMA, to submit a nomination, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.hma.org.au or email info@hma.org.au. Nominations close on 21 August.
The HMA Board invites you to join us for the official launch of the 2024 Hunter Manufacturing Awards – and help us celebrate our 20th anniversary.
The launch event marks the formal opening of the award application period for the 2024 Hunter Manufacturing Awards, and the beginning of what promises to be our biggest Awards season ever.
At the event, we will be announcing our award categories for 2024, introducing our sponsors, partners and supporters – and providing an opportunity for you to meet and mingle with others from the Hunter’s impressive manufacturing community.
The Hunter Manufacturing Awards profiles and promotes manufacturers from Newcastle through to the Lower Hunter, Upper Hunter, Central Coast and mid-North Coast.
The event will be held on the premises of the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year (50 employees or more) – HIVIS Group and will be co-hosted by winner of the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year (less than 50 employees) – Senquip.
The team from HIVIS will be hosting group tours of their facility and the Senquip team will be displaying and showcasing their latest products and offerings.
Date: Wednesday 22nd May
Time: 5:15pm arrival for a 5:30pm start (the event will conclude by 7.30pm)
Location: HIVIS Group, 40-42 Fitzroy Street, Carrington
Dress Code: Please wear enclosed shoes.
Light refreshments will be served.
Please note that tickets are limited, so act fast to secure your place – we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 22nd.
Please RSVP by Wednesday May 15th.
Should you have any questions please contact Adrienne Donnelly via 0404 163 320, or info@hma.org.au
What a year it has been for HMA and the manufacturing sector throughout our region. The 2023 winners and finalists highlight the resilience, excellence and forward thinking nature of the industry within the Hunter.
We’ve delivered an active calendar of events and interacted with hundreds of manufacturers across the year through our Insights events, local networking events, Meet Your Local Manufacturer visits, online industry capability building and of course, through applications into the awards program. And what an awards night it was… SO many world-leading examples of “Made in the Hunter, for the world”.
We welcomed new board members, Steph Loadsman from KPMG and Luke Sasse from Hi-VIS who contributed an exceptional amount to the broader HMA organisation. I thank each of our board members for their input and support and look forward to working as a group again in 2024.
We also welcomed a new Admin & Events Manager, Alan Parry. Alan made a great start in digitising a lot of our internal systems and processes along with bringing new eyes to our events. I think we can all agree that Alan did a stellar job on the 2023 Gala Event. Next year, Alan is taking on a new challenge, returning to University to complete his Masters in Teaching. We wish him all the very best. I will say, we are in very capable hands in 2024 though, as we welcome Adrienne Donnelly into the Admin & Events Manager role, and a long-time friend of HMA Tracey Freinberger who will be supporting us with our marketing and communications.
Following on from this year’s awards, we held a Director’s Strategy Day to consider ways to improve the event in 2024, including a refinement of the criteria and application process, and continued efforts to celebrate and profile the awards finalists – on the awards evening, and throughout the year.
I am excited to share that 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of HMA. In celebration of this milestone, we are dedicated to making it an even more remarkable event. In fact, we aim to make it our biggest yet! Stay tunes for more updates in the new year, but this will be a year that you won’t want to miss!
If you happened to miss this year’s awards winners, you can read all about it on our website. Also, there’s a photo gallery online as well. And, thanks to Pete Delahunty from Black Sheep Digital, we have, for the first time, a highlights reel from our 2023 Gala Awards Night. You can watch it below and re-live the memories of a great night of celebration.
You will also see this video on our social media pages (LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook) if you would like to share it!
On behalf of the HMA board, I want to thank all our sponsors, partners and supporters, our judges for their contribution to the awards program, to all those that entered the awards, to our team and those amazing people behind the scenes that put our awards event together, and to each of you for being a part of the HMA community… for your interest, support and dedication toward continuing the promotion of manufacturing and the Hunter Manufacturing Awards.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and well-deserved moments of rest. May your machines pause, your assembly lines slow, and your hardworking teams find time to rejuvenate during this special time. Here’s to a peaceful break and the chance to recharge for a prosperous New Year ahead.
Christmas Cheers,
Jacqui Daley
Chair – Hunter Manufacturing Awards
A market leader in highly intelligent visual information systems and a telemetry products maker swept the pool at this year’s Hunter Manufacturing Awards, collecting their gongs at a gala presentation at NEX last night.
Carrington-headquartered Hi-Vis won the 2023 Manufacturer of the Year – 50 Employees or More Award, along with the Excellence in Sustainable Operations Award and the Excellence in Manufacturing Capability Award.
As a market leader in highly intelligent visual information systems (HIVIS), its products have been keeping Australians safe for more than 40 years. Hi-Vis has made significant investments in manufacturing technology and enjoys a close relationship with the engineering department at the University of Newcastle.
In recognising the winners, HMA Chair Jacqui Daley referred to the chosen theme for this year’s awards, “Made in the Hunter, for the World”. She said it encapsulates the very essence of what the Hunter Manufacturing Awards stand for.
“In a world marked by increasing demand and government initiatives aimed at advancing manufacturing capabilities, our local manufacturing sector is experiencing a resurgence,” Ms Daley said. “Manufacturers are innovating across a diverse range of sectors, from the medical and food industries to supply chains, embracing smart technologies and revitalising traditional processes.”
The other major award winner, for Manufacturer of the Year – Less than 50 Employees, was telemetry products maker Senquip. The Taylors Beach-based business manufactures telemetry equipment that monitors and controls remote machinery in harsh industrial environments.
Senquip also picked up the Excellence in Product Design Award. Its patented telemetry products are highly adaptable and replace the need for bespoke solutions. Senquip sells to New Zealand, England, France, Spain, the US, India, Italy, Uruguay, South Africa, and Papua New Guinea with significant potential for growth in each of these markets.
Ms Daley said HMA’s mission is clear. “We aim to champion best practices in manufacturing and inspire businesses to soar to greater heights,” she said. “While not every entrant and finalist may have their sights set on international markets, we are committed to fostering exploration of global opportunities and leveraging the strategic location and robust transportation infrastructure of the Hunter region.
“It is an honour to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of manufacturers from the Upper Hunter, Lower Hunter, Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, and Mid-North Coast regions. The Hunter has been the host of some exciting media announcements for our industry in 2023 and there is no question the region is firmly positioned for ongoing support and success in manufacturing.”
Ms Daley noted the commitment from the State Government to manufacture trains again in NSW. She said the Hunter is perfectly positioned to deliver. She also cited the international terminal expansion at Newcastle Airport, the clean-energy precinct planned for Port of Newcastle, and Australia’s first lithium-ion battery giga-factory.
It was the 19th year of the HMA, and local television personality Jane Goldsmith steered the event flawlessly throughout the evening with 14 category awards up for grabs. Apart from those companies accepting awards, a feature was the students from Star Struck, who performed a medley from their production Ignite.
It was the 16th year of Downer Group as the major sponsor of the awards. Daniel Chaplin, Downer General Manager NSW, said the HMA is the region’s most significant manufacturing event. Ms Daley said she was grateful for Downer’s unequivocal support. She also thanked all the partners, in-kind sponsors, and supporters who play a crucial role in sustaining HMA.
“With the continuous support of our travel partner, Helloworld Business Travel Newcastle, and this year’s addition, Newcastle Airport, we are thrilled to continue our tradition of awarding the two major winners with a trip to an international destination, enabling them to attend trade fairs, events, or activities that will benefit their companies,” she said.
Ms Daley said 2023 also marks a special year for Bekaert Australia, which has been in operation for 100 years in Newcastle, producing a range of specialised wire rope products.
“Congratulations to Stephen Hennessy and the whole team,” she said. “Over the past century, the company has faced global economic challenges including the Depressions, a world war, and threats from international competition. And here you are.”