Every year companies with a manufacturing, service or technology base in Australia that also export their goods and services, vie for the State and National Export Awards.
To win even a state award is special; however, to win a national award is the epitome of success.
So it comes as a wonderful surprise to see not one, not two, but three companies from the mining supply industry get gongs at the National Export Awards last week.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Russell Minerals Equipment and Callidan Instruments of Queensland, and GMA Garnet out of Western Australia.
Russell Mining Equipment designs, manufactures and markets a range of mill relining equipment and associated support equipment, and the company is also a member of Austmine. This the second time RME has won a National award.
Callidan Instruments designs and manufactures a complete range of moisture measurement instrumentation utilising microwave technology used in products across the minerals processing sector.
Finally, GMA Garnet is even more unique in that it not only produces the finished product used in blast cleaning and water jet cutting abrasives, but also mines the raw material from its own operations in WA. A double whammy.
All of these companies are Australian-owned and operated, and each has export success stories to tell in spades.
Such awards do not come easy. For a start there has to be an inclination to enter and there's also all the effort that goes into the nomination.
This is nothing new to companies that recognise the benefits of entering such awards – as they are a good tool for getting your story across to many instrumental bodies within the relative departments that review the nominations – and of course if you happen to nab a state award then your story becomes more known to the national bodies.
Competitions are a great thing for suppliers and miners, from major mining companies right down to local town businesses who can be recognised for their contributions to the industry in their own locations.
The main thing is to be in it to win it, no matter where you finish in the race.
But back to our award winners. They can now proudly advertise to the international export scene they are acclaimed exporters, and it can only foster for these companies, and more so their employees, a greater sense that their efforts have been recognised.
There is no doubt that award recognition has many plusses within companies and in the eyes of a global customer base. It's invaluable to let a new or potential customer know you are recognised nationally as a star performer.
As we Australians continue to invent, develop, design, manufacture, market and increase our exports, especially in the minerals and mining sector, we must work on becoming the number one in these areas.
But we can't stop there, and as an industry we must continue to find smarter ways of proving our strengths to the global industry at large.
I have said before we are a nation of winners in our exports – and in our research and development.
I read recently about a major mining house in a joint venture with university to develop an autonomous surface mining truck system. This is cutting-edge technology which indicates our ability to take on challenges and win out with ingenuity and excellence.
One could say this is the ANZAC spirit, and this sort of innovation and drive can only make our industry better and more competitive on the global stage.
