KNOX...Three Knox businesses were recipients of grants as part of Round 1 of the Technology...

KNOXIssue 52 NOVEMBER 2013

Business success stories

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Nominate for MSE Awards

Benefits of SEMMA

Wins through Enterprise Connect

Need a meeting space?

at VEYANCE$32M expansionThe Knox economy has been given a boost following expansion of Veyance Belting’s conveyor belt manufacturing plant in Bayswater.

Last month, Victorian Premier Dr Napthine

officially cut the ribbon to open the plant

with John Hamilton, President of Veyance

Technologies Inc. and David Stone,

General Manager of Veyance Belting.

Veyance Technologies Inc. is the exclusive

manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered

Products worldwide, including Goodyear-

branded air springs, automotive belts

and hoses, power transmission products,

conveyor belts and services, industrial and

hydraulic hose, rubber track and moulded

products.

Veyance expects 130 jobs to be created

when the plant is at full operating

capacity, which includes

indirect jobs gained

through greater

demand on the

services of suppliers.

‘Veyance has

innovated and

diversified,

building further

opportunities in

the mining and

resources sector,’

the Premier said.

The $32 million

expansion of the

plant will allow

Veyance to produce

high strength steel

cord belts used for

Australian mining

projects.

‘This is what we like to see

of Victoria’s manufacturers: Adapting,

diversifying and innovating to seize those

opportunities when they arise,’

he said.

The expansion has seen the Flexsteel

belt manufacturing capacity double

thanks to a new Siempelkamp Press,

which incorporates the world’s first direct

individual cord tensioning system.

Cr Darren Pearce, Chair of the Council’s

Economic Development Committee,

welcomed this expansion in Knox’s

manufacturing capabilities.

‘This is a great demonstration of the

future that Knox can pursue by working

to support advanced manufacturers

to apply new technologies, develop

new workforce skills and create local

employment,’ he said.

‘Council officers worked actively with

Veyance to facilitate a smooth path for

the various approvals associated with this

project,’ he added.

www.goodyearep.com

At the opening

from left to right were:

John Hamilton - President

Veyance Technologies Inc,

Denis Napthine - Premier

Victoria and David Stone -

General Manager

Veyance Belting.

Three Knox businesses were recipients of grants as part of Round 1 of the Technology Implementation Vouchers (TIV) issued earlier this year.

Technology Minister, Gordon Rich-Phillips, said

the funding will allow companies to explore

the use of industrial biotechnology, small

technologies or information and communication

technologies (ICT) as part of the Victorian

Government’s $9 million Technology Voucher

Program (TVP).

The vouchers support businesses to collaborate

with suppliers in order to develop, adapt or adopt

industrial biotechnology, small technologies and

advanced ICT-based innovations for new practice

or new markets.

TECHNOLOGY VOUCHERS FOSTER INNOVATION

‘Victoria has world-leading capabilities and

expertise when it comes to technologies

and these vouchers will go a long way

to supporting companies to access

these facilities, goods, services advice or

expertise,’ Mr Rich-Phillips said.

The grant recipients were:

• Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd: developing

a device for cardiac marker biosensor

development.

• IntelliMedical Technologies Pty Ltd:

developing and testing a steerable

micro-guidewire device for use in

interventional medical procedures, the

IntelliWire.

• Circa Group Pty Ltd: for a pilot scale

demonstration of the commercial

feasibility of manufacture of a new

renewable solvent.

TVP is based on a voucher system where

successful applicants receive a voucher that

can be exchanged for access to facilities,

goods, services, advice or expertise within

a network of approved suppliers that have

specific, demonstrated expertise in small

and emerging technologies.

Three different vouchers target

different development stages:

• Technology

Development Voucher

(TDV), issued to a

maximum value

of $50,000.

• Technology

Universal

Biosensors’

state-of-the-art

manufacturing

facility in

Rowville.

Implementation Voucher (TIV), issued to a

maximum value of $250,000.

• Technology Student Accelerator (TSAV),

issued to a maximum value of $10,000.

STC (the Small Technologies Cluster) in

Scoresby administers, coordinates and

facilitates the TDV application processes.

The Victorian Government manages and

administers TIV and TSAV vouchers and sets

dates for the funding rounds. An expert

advisory panel is used to evaluate and rate

each completed application.

Check www.stcaustralia.org/grants for open

and closing dates, eligibility criteria and

guidelines for submission.

The TVP aims to:

• Increase absorption and adoption of small

technology applications.

• Assist businesses to move more rapidly

from concepts and ideas to commercial

products and services using small

technologies.

• Enable businesses to access expert

small technology capabilities (people

and facilities) within publicly-funded

institutions and private sector service

providers.

• Build links between providers of

knowledge in Victoria’s publicly funded

research and development organisations

and the private sector.

The adoption, integration and development

of technology in products, processes or

services should be central to proposed

voucher projects. Specifically, preference

will be given to projects that demonstrate

the absorption of technologies into existing

products and processes, rather than the

commercialisation of new products or

services.

Mr Rich-Phillips said as part of the voucher

program, a Technology Capability and

Supplier Searchable Directory had also

been established that lists companies and

organisations able to provide services to

voucher applicants, which enables users to

easily connect applicant needs with supplier

capabilities.

www.business.vic.gov.au/tvp

www.stcaustralia.org/grants

Knox Economic Development

Knox Business Life | Issue 52 NOVEMBER 2013[2]

The Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, David Hodgett, recently toured five Bayswater manufacturers that are working with the Eastern Regional Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO) in Ringwood.

Rosebank Engineering,

Crusador Hose, the

Melbourne Desk Company,

Hi-Class Composites and

Tuff Tonneaus are all thriving

businesses that have accessed

government services and programs to

boost productivity, increase innovation

and expand internationally.

‘It’s great to hear first-hand how these

businesses are achieving their commercial

goals in the current uncertain global

economic conditions,’ the Minister said.

‘I am incredibly impressed with the

innovation, commitment and skills-base

demonstrated by these firms.

‘Rosebank Engineering is a tremendous

example of a local firm that is making

an impressive global impact. It is to

be congratulated on its expertise in

Supersonic Particle Deposition, a process

where metal, composite or polymer power

particles are accelerated at supersonic

speed to generate bonding with

underlying materials.’

At the Melbourne Desk Company,

David Hodgett saw how equipment

purchased with a $250,000 Investing in

Manufacturing Technology grant had

reduced waste and power consumption

and improved productivity.

The company has one of only 10 machines

in the world capable of making laminated

table tops of irregular shapes.

Tuff Tonneaus was established in 1993 and has

built a niche business manufacturing soft and

hard lid tonneaus or covers, ute liners and mats

for a broad range of leading vehicle brands.

‘With 30 staff, the company prides itself on

its lean manufacturing processes and is to be

commended for investing in staff training in

this efficient practice.

‘Working with the VGBO is a highly effective

way for local firms to access support that is

relevant, practical and very often low cost or

even free,’ he said.

The Eastern Region VGBO is located at

Suite 11, Level 1, 12 Maroondah Highway,

Ringwood. Tel: 9938 0150.

Email: [email protected]

MINISTER VISITS BAYSWATER MANUFACTURERS

Francois Stevelynck,

Managing Director of Crusader

Hose with Minister Hodgett and

Colin Crotty from the local Victorian

Government Business Office.

Established in 1985, Crusader Hose

first accessed Victorian Government

support when the company had

four staff. Today, the firm

employs 27 people.

Knox Business Life | Issue 52 NOVEMBER 2013 [3]

www.knoxbusinessdirect.com.au

KNOX

EXPORT AWARD WINNERSTwo Knox businesses have received prestigious

2013 Governor of Victoria Export Awards

(GOVEAs): Ecotech in the Environmental

Solutions category and Fairmont Medical

Products in Health and Biotechnology.

The GOVEAs reward Victoria’s most

successful and innovative exporters.

Ecotech in Knoxfield offers a comprehensive

package of instrumentation, software,

integrated systems and services for ambient

air, blast and climate change monitoring

applications. Partnering with leading

research institutions has assisted Ecotech

to develop and commercialise products for

the research market. Export markets include

China, the Middle East, India, USA, Sweden,

South Africa and Mexico.

www.ecotech.com.au

Fairmont Medical Products in Bayswater

exports to New Zealand, the UK, the

Netherlands, Japan, Denmark, Italy and

Ireland. Key to Fairmont’s success has

been an investment in markets, people and

research and development to continually

deliver innovative and price sensitive devices

specific to their customers’ needs.

www.fairmontmedical.com.au

Mark Verschuur, Managing Director of Fairmont Medical Products with the Award and a Telepac, the company’s latest innovative product being exported worldwide.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY AWARD Nature’s Organics in Ferntree Gully was recognised at the 2013 United Nations Association of Australia environmental awards.

A finalist, the company manufactures

household cleaning and personal

care products and received a Special

Commendation in the category of

Excellence in Overall Environmental

Management.

Natures Organics is dedicated

to researching, developing and

manufacturing products that utilise

plant based ingredients, biodegradable

surfactants and sustainable packaging

solutions, ensuring everything it can do to

protect the environment.

The company is committed to pioneering

new environmental technologies and

hopes that its example will inspire

change for other businesses and future

generations to come.

www.naturesorganics.com.au

Managing Director of Nature’s Organics, Justin Dowel with Craig Ondarchie, MLC Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier.

The Stringbark Festival held in October at Rowville produced yet another first for Knox: Speed Date an Expert.

Green Moves assisted in delivering

this new component of the Festival,

which involved Knox businesses that

have sustainable practices or products

to become an ‘expert’ and share their

products and/or knowledge with others.

The experts included:

Tania Bell, Interior Decorator from Green

Room Interiors

Andrew Alabaster, Insulation Contractor

from Enviroflex

Interior

decorator

Tania Bell at

Stringybark.

KNOX SPEED DATE EXPERTSTim Freshney, Builder from Well Known Homes

Kaaren Jukes, Designer from Red House Studio

Participants were set up in a purpose-built

booth, which was dressed with company

information, marketing materials and product

samples. They also had their logos displayed on

festival marketing material and in advertising.

Visitors to the Stringybark Festival were able

to book a 20-minute ‘speed date’ session with

these various sustainability experts.

Tania Bell said being part of the expert panel

was a great opportunity to meet some locals

who are renovating and building.

‘I loved being able to give free advice to

people in need of some professional, objective

information on reducing their heating and

cooling costs with effective window dressings.

‘It was also a great way to network with peers

and also raise my businesses profile in the local

community. It was an excellent initiative by

Knox Council and I will surely put my hand up

for next year’s involvement.’

If you missed this year’s event, make sure to get

in early for the 2014 Festival and ensure you are

registered on the www.knoxbusinessdirect.com.au website.

GREEN BUSINESS

VIC PUFFER PILOTGlaxoSmithKline is piloting a program in Victoria of recycling old asthma inhalers.

As part of the Complete the Cycle

Inhaler Recycling and Recovery Scheme

program, inhalers are collected from

ChemMart chemists and taken to a

specialist recycling centre.

At the launch in October, a month’s worth

of inhalers, more than 800,000, were

loaded on three trucks, demonstrating

the quantities that would normally go into

landfill. When disposed this way, old inhalers

pose a risk in terms of greenhouse gas

emissions should the gas canisters be pierced

and any propellant released.

Chemmart’s

Katie Fala, Robin

Ould from the Asthma

Foundation Victoria

and Andrew Yeates

from GlaxoSmithKline

at the launch.



WRIGLEY BAGS UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENTPutting its principles into practice, 25

employees from The Wrigley Company in

Rowville, together with a community volunteer,

spent a day in October giving back to their

local community and the environment through

their annual corporate volunteer day initiative.

A subsidiary of Mars Inc., Wrigley is a leader in

confectionery including gums and lollies and

understands that there are numerous benefits

gained through the volunteering program

offered to its employees.

In addition to cleaning up the local

environment, those involved feel a sense

of connectedness and involvement in the

community and are able to take pride in their

local area.

Wrigley Pacific has a heritage of conducting

its business in a sustainable and socially

responsible manner and this year, the Rowville

employees focussed on the Corhanwarrabul

Creek and bike path, just a minute’s walk away

from the Wrigley premises.

Armed with ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ rubbish

bags, gloves and tongs, they started at

Stud Road in Rowville and walked along

Corhanwarrabul Creek and the adjacent bike

path down to Ferny Creek in Hancock Drive,

covering a distance of 3.5 kilometres.

More than 60 bags were filled with rubbish

with plastic water bottles featuring heavily. The

clean-up has greatly improved and enhanced

the health of the creek, the bush habitat and the

lives of its wildlife residents.

www.wrigley.com

Ever heard of ‘Industrial Ecology’? It is the shifting of industrial processes from linear (open loop) systems, in which resource and capital investments move through the system to become waste (often with increasing disposal costs), to a closed loop system where wastes become inputs for new processes.

Knox City Council, in partnership with the cities

of Kingston (lead Council), Dandenong, Hume

and technology development partner CSIRO,

has applied to receive State Government

funding from the Digital Futures Fund to

develop and test a system that will enable

effective transaction of input and output

material, business to business.

In other words, putting Industrial Ecology

into practice to help businesses save money

and demonstrate leadership in sustainable

practices.

ASPIRE (Advisory System for Processing,

Innovation & Resource Exchange) is an online

material flow system that will assist SMEs

with waste disposal challenges through an

innovative and efficient online solution.

It is designed to match businesses

that have a disposal requirement with

those that need the same material as

a production input and thus improve

economic development in the region.

The project will:

• Develop a database of successful

business to business (B2B) resource

(waste) exchanges.

• Classify a business and provide

tailored information on potential

waste matches.

• Identify potential B2B waste matches

by prioritising products, partners and

location simultaneously.

• Utilise web-based functionality to

allow SMEs to directly interact with

the system.

Knox City Council is inviting expressions

of interest from local manufacturing

businesses that might be interested

in participating, should the funding

application be successful. For more

information, contact Council’s

Sustainability Officer, Sam Sampanthar

on 9298 8000.

An example, as demonstrated in the

photos, shows Confoil crates that have

been matched up with local community

groups to turn their waste product into

vegetable garden beds.

Awaiting funding outcome at the time

of going to print.

CLOSING THE RESOURCE LOOPMATCH-MAKING IN THE DIGITAL AGE



KNOX

SME INNOVATOR COLLABORATES WITH ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITALAPS Innovations in Ferntree Gully has been chosen to work with the Royal Children’s Hospital to develop a cost-effective range of infant feeding teats designed to meet the specific requirements of both healthy and difficult infant feeders.

While APS has designed and manufactured

many products for their clients since founding

in 1986, it is the first time the company

has been responsible for marketing and

distribution of their own product.

Although their customer base was initially

almost purely automotive, APS has

progressively developed its capabilities over

the years to ensure it has adapted to changing

market conditions.

The APS business development team has

identified medical devices as a growth industry

sector that suited the company’s capabilities

and can be cost-effectively manufactured

locally.

Callum MacLeod, APS Project Manager, said

the choice was a deliberate strategy to ensure

continued growth for the company.

‘While investigating opportunities in the

medical devices space, we were working with

Mal Clark and Judith Bennett from Enterprise

Connect, who introduced us to the Victorian

Government Market Validation Program.

The Department of State Development,

Business and Innovation (DSDBI) asks host

organisations to detail technical requests and

problems they need solved, and then calls on

SMEs to propose innovative new solutions,’

Callum said.

With no product on the market that met the

needs for healthy and difficult feeders, the

Hospital was invited to submit a technical

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR 2014 MSE AWARDSMelbourne’s South-East region is home to 1.4 million Victorians (29 percent of the state’s population) and is Australia’s best region to invest, live, work and play.

It is also home to a regional economic

development alliance of 10 local government

authorities, utility companies and state and federal

government departments, known as MSE Group

Melbourne’s South East Economic

Development Group exists to identify and

realise opportunities that improve economic

development outcomes for the MSE region.

MSE Group currently provides 26 percent of

the state’s jobs.

A key initiative of MSE is recognition of

businesses that have made a valuable

contribution to the MSE economy by

acknowledging their success and achievements

at the 2014 MSE Business Awards.

To be held in April 2014, MSE’s regional

Business Awards bring together business award

winners from participating council business

award programs and other leading local

businesses that are nominated, to be judged

the ‘THE BEST OF THE BEST’.

The Awards provide an opportunity to

recognise business achievement, foster

business to business networking and

contribute to the regional economy

through:

• Encouraging ongoing networking

opportunities;

• Recognising business excellence;

• Facilitating initiatives to support

expansion of business;

• Connecting and identifying business

links;

• Encouraging employment through

business growth; and

• Developing strategic partnerships for

economic advantage.

If you’re a Knox business and have won

an award in 2013, experienced significant

growth or achieved a major goal, you

may qualify to be nominated by Knox City

Council Economic Development for an

MSE Award.

The process involves sending an email to

[email protected] outlining why you

would like to be nominated. Nominations

close 1 February 2014.

Knox had one winner in the 2013 MSE

Awards: Davey Water Products took out

the Environmental

& Sustainability

Award.Cr Nicole Seymour, Simon Brown and Clinton Harvie from Davey, and Cr Darren Pearce at the 2013 MSE Awards.



request to the

DSDBI sponsored

program. APS

was selected from a

number of applicants to

undertake a feasibility study

and a subsequent proof of concept, which it is

currently in the process of delivering.

‘Our development team established solutions to

the technical product challenges,’ said Callum.

‘However, we still needed advice and guidance in

taking the product to market, which is an exciting

new chapter in APS’s growth.’

To this end, APS has taken advantage of Small

Business Victoria’s Small Business Workshops and

Seminars program, which Knox City Council runs

throughout the year.

During the recent Small Business Festival, multiple

APS team members attended the Marketing for

Growth, Get Your Business Organised and Building

Your Online Strategy workshops.

‘They were all extremely beneficial. Collectively it

is about us adding a new facet to our business and

making sure we put our best foot forward.

‘There is no doubt that the Small Business

Workshop and Seminar program has given us

added confidence in our commercialisation

strategy preparing to launch our own product for

the first time.’

www.apsinnovations.com.au

Diana Tomoiaga

and Toby Hartley set up

a material ‘dog-bone’ test

sample for tensile testing

in the APS Innovations

laboratory using the Zwick

Static Material Tester.

The Outer Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network (OELLEN) is thrilled with the response from local businesses, which have contributed to 900 young people being placed into workplace training this year.

OELLEN is one of 31 LLENs across

Victoria funded by the Federal and State

Governments to deliver the national

School Business Community Partnership

Broker Program and Workplace

Learning Coordinators Program in Knox,

Maroondah and Yarra Ranges.

The School Business Community

Partnership Brokers develop sustainable

partnerships between schools, industry

and the community to foster a whole-

of-community approach to supporting

young people as they learn and develop.

The key goal is to ensure that young

Australians attain year 12 or equivalent

qualification, and transition successfully to

further education, training or employment.

The OELLEN Workplace Learning

Coordinators have, to date, sourced more

than 900 work experience, structured

workplace learning and school based

apprenticeships and traineeship

placements for young people in 2013.

The OELLEN role includes identification

and dissemination of information

regarding local skill shortage

areas. During 2013, a number

of niche manufacturing

areas have been identified

and in response, the

LLEN planned industry

tours for teachers and

students to promote

careers in these areas.

To encourage female

participation in

engineering, OELLEN,

in partnership with the

Australian Industry Group

and Cummins, organised a ‘cutting edge

technical pathways for girls day’, which

enabled students to visit the Cummins

Scoresby site to gain insight into the

industry.

The OELLEN

also brokered

partnerships

to support the

Trade Training

Centres

in schools

programs.

Among these is

a partnership

between 10

local printers

to provide

workplace

learning

opportunities

for students

enrolled in the

Printing and Graphic Arts program at

KIOSC. The KIOSC Trade Training Centre,

located on the Swinburne Wantirna

campus is a consortium of seven Knox

secondary schools and Swinburne.

To contact OELLEN call 9723 2717 or

email [email protected]

www.oellen.org.au

Students can undertake work experience in three categories:

• Work experience: mainly observation and low level tasks.

• Structured workplace learning: students apply their learning in the workplace.

• School based apprenticeships and traineeships: combination of part-time employment, school and training.

A lab

skills student

in the KIOSC

Trade Training

Centre

BUSINESSES EMBRACE YOUTH PLACEMENTS



KNOX

Two Knox businesses have taken advantage of the Australian Government’s Enterprise Connect initiative and are implementing changes to their business that are delivering winning improvements.

Kings Fibreglass in Bayswater and iCreate

Retail Solutions in Knoxfield both underwent

a free Business Review in 2012 that provided

a host of recommendations across all areas

of the business including strategy, human

resources, financial management, business

and production processes, marketing and

environmental sustainability.

Enterprise Connect offers comprehensive

advice and support to eligible Australian

small and medium businesses to help them

transform and reach their full potential.

Experienced Business Advisers will provide a

top-to-bottom analysis of the business and give

tailored, unbiased advice along with new ideas

and ways to help implement changes faster.

Helen Attard from Kings Fibreglass said having

the Business Review was excellent because

it provided an outside

perspective and direction

on what was needed

to improve the

business.

‘Three changes

we have

embraced

revolve around

productivity,

innovation

and HR with

immediate

noticeable

improvements.

‘First, we purchased

a robot to carry

out the more intricate

fibreglass grinding work

where accuracy is vital. The

process used to take one person

45 minutes to drill the holes and trim it;

the robot does it in nine minutes.

‘Then we hired a full time engineer who is

working across the company on designs

including with customers and helping

to manage the factory, which has freed

up the Managing Director Glen King’s

time allowing him to work on business

development.

‘We also purchased a Resin Transfer

Moulding machine, which will allow us to

add more innovation in the custom area.

‘With these three changes alone, we

have picked up several significant new

clients and created a new product for

Queensland Rail: first class train seats,’

Helen said.

Various grants are available

through Enterprise Connect

and Kings is currently

investigating replacing all

their lighting with LED

lighting, for which a grant

can be provided.

‘We are extremely pleased

with Colin Crotty and the

team located at the new

Victorian Government

Business Office in

Ringwood who

facilitated the review

and provide ongoing advice and support.’

iCreate, which specialises in custom designs

and manufacturing processes using a variety of

materials to build creative retail environments,

was also happy with the Business Review

process and extremely pleased with its

recommendations.

Jenny Mahon said the areas that needed

the most attention were HR, marketing and

strategic planning.

‘We have implemented some of the HR

suggestions and will continue to do so. This

includes full scale initiatives from renegotiating

contracts to job descriptions, KPIs and

performance reviews.

‘We also expect to take advantage of the

Tailored Advisory Service in the future, which

provides us with a grant.’

For more information contact Enterprise

Connect on 131 791 or visit:

www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au

www.kingsfibreglass.com.au

www.icreateretail.com.au

FREE BUSINESS REVIEW WITH ENTERPRISE CONNECT

The new robot at

King’s Fibreglass is

five times faster than

a manual operator

iCreate’s

in-store

display

unit.



Scoresby-based Aerotrans Australia has acquired the business and assets of NoseCone Aerodynamics.

Aerotrans is the original equipment

manufacturer (OEM) designer and

manufacturer of Fuelscoop for cab mount

products while NoseCones are for body and

trailor mounted devices.

The acquisition is a natural fit as both

companies are OEM suppliers to

manufacturers of transport equipment.

The extensive NoseCone product range

will now be sold alongside Fuelscoop as

a part of the rapidly expanding range of

commercial vehicle equipment, marketed

as Aeroz Products.

Fuelscoop units fitted in front of NoseCone

provide upwards of a 10 percent further

fuel saving.

There is a growing awareness of the benefits

of installing truck aerodynamic devices; the

combination of Fuelscoop and NoseCone

now enables the market to purchase the

best product, or combination of products

from one source.

www.aerotrans.com.au

Additional double digit fuel savings can be made when a Fuelscoop is fitted to trucks with an existing NoseCone.

10% FUEL SAVINGS FOR TRUCKS

BUSINESS CONFERENCE A SUCCESSThis year’s Knox Prosperous Modern Economy Conference, ‘Preparing your Business for a Changing World’ has been declared a success.

Held in May, the conference

connected over 230 businesses,

government agencies, industry

associations and educators.

Attendees said the primary reasons for

attending the conference were:

• Conference theme

• Keynote speakers

• Networking

95 per cent said that the conference met

their expectations.

Incorporating a speaker program, practical

workshops and an expo, the conference was

designed to assist businesses to understand

the drivers of change and how to effectively

transition their business, integrate

employees and build solid corporate

capabilities.

Comments from business people included:

‘The ability to touch base with numerous

government agencies and others in the one

location is a great idea and helps to make

businesses aware of all the support that is

available.’

‘Congratulations on a terrific event. Great

speakers and excellent venue.’

Knox City Council sincerely thanks everyone

who helped make the 2013 Knox Business

Conference a success, especially the

conference sponsors and speakers:

• Mark Bouris, Executive Chairman, Yellow

Brick Road;

• Dr Swee Mak, Director, Future

Manaufacturing Flagship, CSIRO;

• Dean Joel, Managing Director, A-Play; and

• David Heffernan, Company Director,

UniLink Data Systems Pty Ltd.

Update from conference sponsor: Yellow Brick Road

With interest rates at an all time low, now is a

great time to make sure that you’re getting

the best possible deal on your home loan.

At Yellow Brick Road Upwey, we work with

our clients to make sure they have the most

competitive mortgage rates, often saving

them thousands of dollars in the process.

With spring in full swing, now is a great time

to take a look at your finances. Get in touch

with us today! www.ybr.com.au/branches/

upwey

2014 Knox Business Conference

Save the date: Friday 23 May 2013!

Theme: Doing Business in a Changing World

Knox business people taking advantage of the networking opportunities at the 2013 Business Conference.



KNOX



so many mistakes along the way but we

always learnt from them,’ said Fiona. ‘Seek

support early on.’

Kylie Short saw an opportunity and went

for it. A bookkeeper by trade, she was one

of the first to find a niche in the area of

virtual assistance. A true hard worker, Kylie

has seen her business, Tilda Virtual expand,

contract and then expand again. Now

satisfied with her current workload, Kylie

has achieved the perfect balance of family

and career.

How you may ask?

‘I came to the realisation one day that my

kids are my shareholders. If they aren’t

happy then I’m not either,’ Kylie said.

Eve John from Bent Over Silicone Nozzles

is a true entrepreneur. When her husband

was seriously injured in a work-related

accident, he conceived an Australian made

invention that has become an international

hit among trades people. A new member

to the WOMAN.com.au Ambassador team,

Eve shows that through hard work and

determination anything is possible.

Although all women had very different

experiences, the consistent message was

to be persistent.

Don’t let negative people say you can’t do

it. Because anything is possible!

This article first appeared on woman.com.au

by Julia Makin, Executive Director of Vent2Me

Being a young business owner, I don’t get

much sleep. Blame the never ending to-do

list, the joys of managing budgets and the

endless drive to generate new leads.

When you start a business you don’t realise

how lonely that journey can be. Naysayers

will tell you why it’s a bad idea. I’ve heard it

all before; from being told I’m too young, to

being too ambitious for my own good.

So I jumped at the opportunity to attend

the annual Women on the Go Business

Forum and Expo at Knox City Council.

Sponsored by the Bendigo Bank in

conjunction with Maroondah City Council

and Yarra Ranges Shire Council, the forum

showcased three outstanding local women

who have achieved business success.

Fiona Visser discussed the highs and lows

of purchasing an established online retail

business. Through sheer determination

she and her sister turned around Darlings

Downunder, a cloth nappy retailer, into a

successful enterprise. But she warns that

it didn’t happen overnight. ‘We made

‘WOMEN ON THE GO’ KEEPS ON GROWING

Kim Rawlings,

Manager City Futures,

Knox City Council with

speakers Kylie Short from

Tilda Virtual, Fiona Visser

from Darlings Down Under

and Eve John from Bent

Over Silicone Nozzles.

BIG THINGS FOR SMALL TECHSTC (the Small Technologies Cluster), traditionally

an incubator facility, is rolling out a suite of

new programs to support development and

commercialisation of small (micro-, nano-, bio-

technology) and emerging technologies in

Victoria.

These platforms encourage lean product

development and an accelerated path to market.

STC’s goal is to build more promising small and

emerging technology SMEs that perform a critical

role in Australia’s innovation ecosystem.

‘The Tap’ is Victoria’s first advanced technology

coworking space, located at 1 Dalmore Drive,

Scoresby, one of Australia’s leading advanced

manufacturing precincts.

Designed to meet the needs of small teams, start-

ups and consultants who want to get things done

in advanced and emerging technologies, this

vibrant space offers a hotbed of collaboration,

connectivity, networking and support.

Besides all that you’d expect, the space boasts

a workshop that includes a 3D printer for basic

modelling needs, an advanced CAD workstation

and a business intelligence portal.

www.stcaustralia.org

‘The Tap’ is

Victoria’s first

advanced technology

coworking space.

Healthy workplaces can help increase business productivity, employee engagement and reduce workplace injury and illness.

Knox, along with other areas in Victoria, is

currently facing an increase in preventable

chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular

disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and

some cancers1.

The Victorian WorkHealth Check

Program indicates that many Knox

workers are at risk of developing

chronic health issues based on

their prevalence of certain health

risk factors2. The risk for Knox

workers is shown below:

• 94% of Knox workers do not

eat enough vegetables or fruit

• 70% of Knox workers do not do

enough physical activity

• 20% of Knox workers smoke

• 50% of Knox male workers report

drinking alcohol at risky levels

• 25% of Knox female workers report

drinking alcohol at risky levels

• 33% of Knox male workers were at high

risk for developing type 2 diabetes

• 20% of Knox female workers were at high

risk of developing type 2 diabetes

The Council’s Healthy Together Knox team

is highly qualified and provides support and

guidance to local workplaces interested in

improving employee health and wellbeing

and can help assist with the implementation

of the Achievement Program for Workplaces.

This Program is available to all organisations

in Knox – large or small – to support the

development of healthy workplaces and

workforces. It provides an evidence-based

framework and supporting resources for

creating a healthy work environment and

culture to help improve and sustain health

and wellbeing in the workplace.

The Achievement Program for Workplaces

focuses on five health priority areas: smoking;

physical activity; healthy eating; mental

health and wellbeing; and alcohol.

Healthy Together Knox provides

workplaces with networking events

and workshops on a range of workplace

health and wellbeing topics. Previous

topics at networking events have been

on Absenteeism and Mental Health and

Wellbeing.

The

workshops are

more practical to help show workplaces

how they can begin to create a successful

approach to employee health and

wellbeing or strengthen an existing

program within the workplace. They also

provide an opportunity to connect to

health and wellbeing experts and hear

local case studies.

To find out more about the Achievement

Program for Workplaces or about upcoming

networking events please contact Michelle

Hollingworth at michelle.hollingworth@

knox.vic.gov.au or 9298 8893.

facebook.com/htknox

1 Department Of Health, 2010, The Victorian Health Monitor, State Government Of Victoria, Melbourne.

2 Monash University, 2012, 500, 000 Workhealth Checks Statistical Report, Knox Lga Profile For 500, 000 Participants Report, Institute For Safety, Compensation And Recovery Research, Melbourne.

TARGET: A HEALTHIER KNOX

Sarah Baldock

from the Healthy

Together Knox team

at a ‘Creating a

Healthy Workplace

Network Session’

in October.

BE FOUND!Did you know that Knox City Council has

a free business directory? You can search

for businesses that can help you in your

business. Similarly, make sure you are listed

on the directory so that other businesses

AND customers can find you.


TELL US YOUR NEWS!Knox Business Life likes to share good news

amongst the Knox business community. So if

your business has won an award, opened a new

office, achieved a new export market, developed

world-first technology, please let us know.

Please provide a brief outline of your news

via email to [email protected]

Knox Award Winners in 2013Kings Fibreglass from Bayswater won the

2013 Champion Manufacturer Award at

the Australian Small Business Champion

Awards. The presentation took place in

April in Sydney with approximately 900

guests in attendance. It is the third time in

four years that Kings has won the award.

Stephen Coster from Chosen Bean Café

& Roasterie in Mountain Gate Shopping

Centre, Ferntree Gully won a bronze

medal at the Australian International

Barista Awards, which attracts people from

the coffee industry all around Australia

and overseas.



KNOX

Local business owner Rainer Busch from Raidho Solutions recently attended a “Commercialising Your Idea” workshop run by Small Business Victoria and hosted at Knox City Council. And he is very pleased he did.

‘We have just developed an innovative

new product and the workshop gave

me some great ideas, particularly on the

marketing side of things. Importantly,

it also validated steps we had already

implemented. It reinforced to me that

we were on the right track,’ Rainer said.

The Raidho DeskTopper is a new product

that was designed out of Rainer’s desire

to have a stand-up-at-work solution. It

is a portable unit that rests on standard

office desks, tables and benches. It can

be used by anyone who wants to work

standing up; reducing the amount of

time they spend sitting.

‘My doctor told me I had to lose some

weight and encouraged me to spend

as much time standing up as possible.

Apparently the body doesn’t store fat

when you stand up.

‘I looked everywhere but couldn’t

find a cost-effective option that

would allow me to use my computer

standing up at the correct height

whilst using my desk. So I set about

designing and manufacturing

something myself.’

After reading about the

outsourcing services of

Knoxbrooke Industries

in Knox Business

Life Issue 51, Rainer

discussed his needs

with them and now

this organisation,

which provides employment for

adults with disabilities, has agreed to

handle the assembly and packaging

of the Raidho DeskTopper.

‘The workshop presenter was excellent

as he provided real examples of new

products being commercialised, some

bad and some successful. I could really

relate to the information as the advice

was practical and thorough. I would

strongly recommend the workshop

to anyone who has an idea for a new

product or service,’ Rainer added.

www.raidho.com.au/products/desktopper/

SMALL BUSINESS VICTORIA WORKSHOPS A GREAT HELP

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

The Knox Community Christmas Support

‘Share the Joy’ Appeal is hoping to

raise $50,000 in food and toys and

$50,000 in monetary donations. The

project combines the resources of 11

organisations in Knox.

There are many easy ways you can help:

• Organise a fundraiser.

• Have a wishing tree at your

organisation.

• Make a donation of food, money or

gift vouchers and new toys (from birth

to 18 years).

• Volunteer your time to assist with

the transporting goods, packing and

sorting donations. It would make a

great team building exercise!

To make a monetary donation, please

visit www.givenow.com.au/sharethejoy

and feel good knowing you are

supporting Knox families ‘doing it tough’

at Christmas time. All donations are tax

deductible.

For more information contact Katrina

Highman of Knox Infolink on 9761 1325.

Rainer Busch

demonstrates the

Raidho DeskTopper,

which offers

health benefits for

sedentary office

workers.



NEW FACTORY FOR CAPCAP Industries has expanded facilities in line with its environmental policy through its recent move from Knoxfield to larger premises in Scoresby Industry Park.

According to CAP Industries’ Managing Director,

Bou Spithoven, the new premises will enable the

company to significantly increase its production

capacity while at the same time catering for the

growth of its test facilities.

“Increasing the capacity of our testing facilities

has been in the plan for some time, but we

needed to ensure the upgrade was undertaken

in line with our environmental policy. The new

premises enable us to do this.”

CAP Industries will install two large rainwater

tanks to meet the demands of the new testing

facilities, which will also incorporate custom-

design software and energy saving control

initiatives. Mr Spithoven said that not only will

the unit be able to test at higher pressures and

higher flow rates, it will ultimately provide faster,

more accurate results.

Efficient workflow and factory layout were also

key considerations in the selection of the new

premises.

“We have worked to incorporate many of the

latest competitive manufacturing principles in

our new factory layout. The end result is a more

time and cost effective operation – two key

advantages that we are keen to pass on to our

customers,” Bou said.

www.capindustries.com.au

From humble beginnings 25 years ago,

Oleon Specialty Oils and Lubricants

has grown into a company that supplies

some of Australia’s largest industrial

and automotive businesses. Olean is a

sponsor of Team Honda Racing.

www.oleonoils.com

Panelprint, which relocated from

Croydon in 2010, is 30 years old and a

proud Australian-owned family business.

With in-house design, sheet metal

fabrication, powder coating, screen

and digital printing facilities, Panelprint

provides an integrated and complete

solution to its clients.

www.panelprint.com.au

Stadium Signs was founded

25 years ago and prides itself

on providing signage solutions

to some of the most prestigious

names in sporting events with

solutions from vehicle wraps and large

format digital printing to manufacture of

frames and custom-built signage.

www.stadiumsignsevents.com.au

It was 40 years ago that Leon & Paul

Savage began Streaker Boats with the

introduction of their first boat, the V14

Streaker, manufactured from a small

factory in Ringwood. In 1980 production

was moved to Bayswater and now

Streaker boats is one of the most popular

brands of fibreglass boats.

www.streakerboats.com.au

CAP Industries is a family-operated

business that was formally established in

2003. The company’s expertise is in pump

control and pump systems as it designs,

assembles, commissions and maintains

pump controllers, packaged pump

stations and booster systems for a wide

range of industries.

www.capindustries.com.au

Paul and his

father Leon Savage

are celebrating

40 years of

Streaker Boats.

COMPANY MILESTONES

Stadium Signs

installs one of

its signs at the

Melbourne

Grand Prix.



KNOX

tinyme

directors Nick

McLennan, Mike

Wilson (founder)

and Ben Hare.

Techtop AustraliaShanghai Top Motor Company, one of the

leading motor manufacturers in China, has

recently established a commercial operation

in Australia.

The new facility in Rowville comprises a

modern 1090 square metre office and

warehouse. Founded by Rohan Pollard and

Jeff Aird, Techtop Australia combines local

market knowledge with overseas

manufacturing capabilities including single

and three phase TEFC electric motors in both

aluminium and cast iron.

www.techtop.com.au

RuhrpumpenA global specialist in

pumping technology,

Ruhrpumpen has

relocated within

Knox to Rowville.

Ruhrpumpen offers

operators of pump

systems a complete range of pumps

to support industries such as oil & gas,

chemical, power, industrial applications,

water and mining.

www.ruhrpumpen.com

SnoozeBedroom furniture

retailer Snooze

has relocated to

802 Burwood

Highway,

Ferntree Gully

from its former

location on Burwood Highway,

Wantirna South, which it vacated

more than a year ago. Snooze

was established in 1974 with one

Melbourne store. Today it has more

than 70 stores across Australia.

www.snooze.com.au

Orthopaedic Appliances OAPL has been a leader

in the orthopaedic

industry for more

than 30 years

and has moved

from Fitzroy

and Brunswick

to Rowville. The

company provides

patient care

through its

orthopaedic

treatment clinics

across Australia,

whilst its wholesale

business specialises

in servicing the

podiatry, physiotherapy,

orthopaedic and

chiropractic market

with the latest product

innovations as well as a full range of everyday

consumables and equipment.

www.oapl.com.au

Viking SeafoodsViking Seafoods is an Australian-owned

seafood wholesaler, importer and seafood

processor. It operates out of state of the

art, HACCP approved premises in Orville Crt

Rowville, where seafood is also sold direct to

the public.

www.vikingseafoods.com.au

Tea LeavesTea merchant and retailer Tea Leaves has

purchased a property in Scoresby for its

wholesale warehouse. Its retail shop is based

in Sassafras, where it has a quaint teashop

that has won nine tourism awards.

www.tealeaves.com.au

WELCOME TO KNOXOmnetLED signage manufacturer Omnet has taken a

new lease on an office and warehouse facility in

Scoresby. The Rocco Drive property comprises a

modern 1360 square metre building.

MRC GlobalFortune 500 company MRC Global has moved

its major industrial factory warehouse to

Scoresby’s Caribbean Business Park from

South Dandenong.

Its Victorian office will remain in Rowville. MRC

Global is the largest global distributor of pipe,

valve and fittings and related products and

services to the energy industry.

www.mrcglobal.com

tinymeRelocating from Nunawading to Scoresby

is tinyme, which prints and produces

personalised items for children such as bags,

diaries, calendars, stickers, books and clothing.

Goods are shipped all over the world from this

Ferntree Gully Road office with a display room

and warehouse/printing facility.

www.tinyme.com.au



Some of

the products

in OAPL’s

range

SEMMA MEMBERSHIP A BONUSSEMMA, the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance, is a peak industry group with around 200 members.

One Knox member, Panelprint in Bayswater, has gained significant benefits from joining SEMMA, including participation in this year’s Austech Exhibition as part of the SEMMA members’ group exhibit.

According to Adrian Boden, SEMMA’s Executive Officer, benefits for members include lobbying governments on manufacturing policy, access to the force of 200 members and the networking events, which attract more than 140 participants each time, including politicians.

‘We also obtain leveraged purchase deals for our members, currently focused on electricity, workplace cover and office/factory equipment. The electricity deal has saved several million dollars for our members and the last four members who joined will save over $100,000 per year between them.

‘Learning sessions run through SEBN are also provided, covering subjects such as lean manufacturing, quality, grants, finance and websites,’ Adrian said.

Other benefits include identification of supply chain opportunities and engaging with R&D institutes and local educational facilities.

The main initiative in 2013 has been the Future of Manufacturing project, which provides a platform to introduce manufacturers to best in class peers who will work with them to improve their business.

Chris Anderson

and Dominic Curtain

from Panelprint

exhibited at the

Austech Exhibition

as part of the

SEMMA group.

The Panelprint office and factory in Bayswater.

NEED A MEETING SPACE? If you occasionally need a meeting or function room, think local!

Three Neighbourhood Community Houses

in Knox have rooms available for hire that are

suitable to host a meeting, seminar or function.

Part of the Learn Local Network, the rooms are

fully fitted for training purposes.

• Rowville Neighbourhood Learning Centre - Rowville

• The Basin Community House & The Basin Progress Hall - The Basin

• Orana Neighbourhood House - Wantirna South

The meeting/function rooms

are spacious and

accommodating with

very reasonable

rates. For

example:

Rowville has

five rooms

that are ideal

for training

and meetings.

They have partition

walls and can be

used individually or

configured into

larger areas.

Orana has

a large

multipurpose

room suitable

for a conference

or training

session. It has

seating for up to

25 people, laptops and

projector, TV and DVD,

kitchen facilities and

smartboard.

For more information

visit:

www.rowvillenlc.org.au

www.thebasincommunityhouse.wikispaces.com

www.orananh.org.au

SEMMA has been instrumental in the review and changes to the Sustainability Victoria Smarter Resources Smarter Business program and represents a $10M fund for businesses to improve their energy and materials efficiency.

Panelprint Office Manager, Matt Jones, said Panelprint joined SEMMA after recommendations by colleagues who were already active members.

‘We were interested in networking and collaborating with like-minded businesses that share our values and passion for Australian manufacturing and face similar challenges.

‘SEMMA provides a group voice for local manufacturers and assists in providing a link with government policy makers, major projects and changing work practices in our industry sector,’ he said.

‘Being at Austech was great as we were able to showcase our products and processes to other manufacturers and business owners.’

Council encourages other manufacturers to consider membership of SEMMA.

www.semma.com.au



KNOX

Knox Council Economic Development• provides a first point of contact for businesses

• provides information and advice

• promotes the City’s features to attract new investment

• helps businesses become internationally competitive

• promotes www.knoxbusinessdirect.com.au

• works with business, government and regional organisations

• assists with site selection

• facilitates training for businesses

ContactKnox Civic Centre

511 Burwood Hwy

Wantirna South 3152

Ph: 9298 8000

Fax: 9801 0389


www.knox.vic.gov.au

[email protected]

PublicationKnox Business Life is published two times

a year. Suggestions and contributions are

welcome and should be forwarded to

Knox Council’s Economic

Development unit.

Knox Business Life is published by the KNOX COUNCIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT unit.

Concept design by THE GRAPHIC DESIGN YARD. www.thegraphicdesignyard.com.au

Printed by HIGHWAY PRESS. www.highwaypress.com.au

Produced by WMC PUBLIC RELATIONS. www.wmcpr.com.au

Knox City Council denies any liability for any loss, damage or injury resulting from any person relying on information obtained by or through this newsletter. Some information that may appear in this newsletter is provided by a third party; such information is made available in good faith as a community service. Authorised and printed by Knox City Council, 511 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South VIC 3152.

EDC CHAIR'S COLUMN by Cr Darren PearceChair, Knox Council Economic Development Committee

The past twelve

months have presented a

range of challenging global and national conditions with which all elements of the Knox economy have had to contend.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has recently

reflected on the circumstances influencing the

performance of the national economy in the

following terms:

• Global growth is running below average, but

with prospects for a pick-up next year;

• The Australian economy is growing below

trend, which is likely to continue as the

economy adjusts to reductions in the level

of mining investment;

• The Australian Dollar depreciated around

15 percent since April and may drop further,

aiding the terms of trade and thus assisting

to rebalance growth in the economy; and

• Nationally, unemployment has edged higher

from 5.1 percent in September 2012 to an

estimated 5.6 percent at June 2013.

The 2013-14 Federal Budget estimates that

Australia’s Gross Domestic Product is expected

to rise 2.5 percent in 2013/14, and lift by a

further 3 percent in 2014/15.

High world commodity prices over recent years

have fuelled significant levels of investment in

Australia’s resources sector which has flowed

through to regional and local levels. Examples

in Knox include rubber conveyor manufacturer

Veyance Belting in Bayswater and monitoring

equipment producer Ecotech in Knoxfield.

The Economic Development Strategy 2008-2018 is now due for a midterm strategic review. A successful review requires engagement from key stakeholders and your input will be valuable so we encourage your involvement. Council now seeks expressions of interest from the business community to be involved in our consultation sessions scheduled for early 2014. To register your interest email [email protected].

The economic outlook for Victoria

is positive with Gross State Product

projected to increase by 2.25 percent in

2013/14 and by 2.75 percent annually

through to 2016/17. (2013/14 Victorian

State Budget)

Locally, the Knox economy has remained

relatively stable over the past three years.

Gross Regional Product has performed

steadily over recent years, despite a

‘flattening’ during the Global Financial

Crisis (2007-8 to 2009-10). Since this time,

economic growth in Knox has recovered

and exhibited an annual average growth

rate of 2.2 percent resulting in a GRP of

$7.6 billion in 2010/11.

Whilst the contribution to GRP from

the manufacturing sector has dropped

by 2.8 percent over this period, the rise

in contributions from Health & Social

Assistance Services (up 1.4 percent)

and Professional & Technical Services

(0.9 percent), whilst only modest, is

demonstrating that Knox may be

‘turning the corner’ in its transition

towards a more knowledge-

based economy.

Unemployment in Knox has

remained steady over past

years at around 4.0 percent.

This is characteristic for

Knox across almost the past

decade, although the

traditional 1 percent

difference between

Knox and Greater

Melbourne has widened

marginally to 1.5 percent

over the past year,

suggesting continued resilience in the Knox

labour force.

The above analysis provides a generally positive

outlook for Knox’s economic performance over

the immediate future. It is reasonable to expect

that the local economy and much of its business

sector can, overall, remain resilient in the face of

the transitions ahead.

Cr Darren Pearce

and Carolyn Creswell,

Managing Director

of Carman’s, at a

recent Rotary Club

breakfast.



KNOX...Three Knox businesses were recipients of grants as part of Round 1 of the Technology...

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