Ice cream for China: Kiwis can do anything

Ice cream for China: Kiwis can do anything
Finalists announced in Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards 2009

Exports of a mapping system to identify all 30,000 species on a Tahitian island, a simulator for medical students to practice virtual operations at home online, and a collision warning system for yachts and commercial boats; these are among the stunning achievements of this year's Auckland export award finalists.

The first refers to Biomatters Ltd, the second to Go Virtual Medical Ltd, and the third to Vesper Marine.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency Auckland hotel on Friday, August 7. (see Fast Facts below)

Convenor of the eight judges, Hugh Cronwright, owner of Export Associates Ltd, says: "We are really excited to see the diversity of new companies emerging to foster New Zealand's exporting and create wealth for the country."

The finalists in all four categories are:

QBE 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 designs, develops, sells and supports high-speed systems that monitor Internet traffic and look for spyware and other abuse.

Ph Neil Hopkins at 582036, Endace.com

* Douglas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Henderson, manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, animal remedies, nutriceuticals and cosmetics for both Douglas Pharmaceuticals and joint venture partners - under its own and others' brand names.

Ph Graeme Douglas at 835 0660, Douglas.co.nz

* A-Ward Attachments Ltd, Penrose, designs and sells equipment for the demolition and recycling industries, such as shredders, conveyors and grapple jaws for excavators.

Ph Simon Ward at 634 5128, A-ward.co.nz

* Emerald Foods Ltd in East Tamaki makes small to medium production runs of premium ice cream and desserts.

Ph Shane Lamont at 274 6168, Icecream.co.nz

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

* Samex Ltd, Mangere company that helps Pacific Island restaurants develop menus then finds and exports New Zealand produce to match.
Ph Blair Knil at 578 1133

* Go Virtual Medical Ltd, Albany-based group of surgeons, physicians and animators who developed an online Integrated Simulator for learning surgical and clinical procedures in virtual reality. It features text, anatomy, video and simulation.
Ph Cherry Vanderbeke at 414 0015, Govirtualmedical.com

* Biomatters Ltd, Auckland City software developer providing scientific solutions in the areas of disease research, human health and environmental issues; software that can be used by all researchers, converting raw data into meaningful, visual information
Ph Candice Toner at 379 5064, Biomatters.com

* Vesper Marine Ltd, Westhaven designer of a collision warning system for yachts, launches and commercial boats that is easy to use and can be on all the time.
Ph Jeff Robbins at 09 950 4848, Vespermarine.com

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

* Fraser Thomas Ltd, Papatoetoe-headquartered professional consultancy firm offering engineering services (civil, environmental, geotechnical and structural), surveying and resource management services.
Ph Stephen Eagle 09 278 7078, Fraserthomas.co.nz

* McKay Electrical and Instrumentation (Whangarei) 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.
Ph Lindsay Faithfull at 09 470 1915, Mckay.co.nz

Export 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, name tags and event invitations.
Ph Michael Gardner at 09 414-1790, Zeetags.co.nz

* Go Virtual Medical Ltd, Albany-based group of surgeons, physicians and animators who developed an online Integrated Simulator for learning surgical and clinical procedures in virtual reality. It features text, anatomy, video and simulation.
Ph Cherry Vandebeke at 09 414-0015, Govirtualmedical.com

For comments, contact:
Catherine Mullane, Export New Zealand, phone 09-367 0970, mob 021 636 219.
Or:
Hugh Cronwright, convenor of judges, phone 09-476 1366, mob 021 154 6872

For background and awards presentation details visit: www.exportnewzealand.org.nz/doc/165/Attendthe2009AirNZCargoAucklandExportAwards
Fast facts

At the Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export New Zealand we're celebrating the following bold deeds...
1. Managing road building, water supply development and education projects from Tajikistan, to Laos, Viet Nam and the Pacific Islands.(Fraser Thomas).

1. Creating an alarm for yachties and commercial boats to warn them of approaching ships, for safety at sea (Vesper Marine)

1. From the drawing board to 350 shops in the US, in just 18 months. That's what Vesper Marine did with its boat alarm. That sort of success is a reason they're a finalist in the Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards.

1. Creating software that allows medical students to practice virtual operations online! No one gets hurt (Go Virtual Medical)

1. Go Virtual Medical creates software allowing medical students to practice virtual or simulated operations, on line, at home - unique in the world It has taken on 20 new staff this year and is a finalist in the Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards.

1. Mapping the ecosystem of all 30,000 species living on a Tahitian island (Biomatters)- a contract undertaken in association with Berkeley University in California and the Smithsonian Institute.

1. Biomatters created Geneious, which is software that puts bioinformatics tools in the hands of all researchers in biology, medicine and genetics. Their aim is to accelerate scientific research and discovery.

1. Making a treatment for severe acne that sells well in the Middle East (Douglas Pharmaceuticals)

9. Douglas Pharmaceuticals makes 480 million pills and capsules each year, in Henderson.

1. Making ice-cream for Russia, China, Dubai and for 600 outlets in all around the world (Emerald Foods). They 've grown the number of their iconic ice cream parlours by over 115% in the past 3 years.

1. Selling microchips for dogs and ear tags for cattle, all over the world (Zee Tags). Their multi tag ID applicator for sheep was judged the most innovative out of 68 entries at the recent Mystery Creek Fieldays. Zee Tags has just bought out its US distributor. Sales of its tags will increase 130% this year.

12. One in four cattle on American ranches wears identification earrings/ear tags made by Zee Tags in Auckland.

13. Designing a grapple jaw attachment for excavators that lifted casualties from the 9/11 Twin Towers collapse (A-Ward Attachments)

14. Endace sells its high speed data packet capture technology in over 40 countries, hq'd from Auckland and with marketing and support operations in the US, the UK and Singapore.

1. One-year-old company Samex already exports several million of dollars of food and drinks on behalf of New Zealand producers who don't have time to export themselves - and growing.

1. Two men started up food and drinks exporting company Samex Ltd part time a year ago, but their sales growth forced them give up their jobs and take on three full timers to help.

17. The largest super yacht in the USA is powered by electrics designed and installed by Whangarei firm McKay Electrical.

18. Plus, the worlds' largest super yacht being built in Abu Dhabi will have its power system installed by Whangarei firm McKay Electrical.

The awards are a night of networking and enlightenment, in Auckland on August 7th. Go to exportnz.org.nz or call Catherine Mullane on 09 367 0970. Or call 0800 800 362.

ENDS

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