Manufacturing and Advanced Materials finalists

AW Bell is a leading supplier of quality casting solutions. The company specialises in ferrous and non-ferrous investment casting and sand casting. It is an OEM of foundry equipment and the first and only titanium investment casting foundry in Australia. It also offers design engineering and prototyping advice, tooling, metallurgical services, precision machining, inspection and assembly. 

AW Bell provides customers with innovative solutions to their needs with superior delivery times, customer service and technical capabilities. The company’s high level of vertical integration drives up efficiency and shortens lead times. This reduces effort and costs for its global customer base. Key export markets include Canada, Germany, India, the UK and the US.

Visit AW Bell website.

Currawong Engineering makes and exports world-leading engine powertrain systems and electronics for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Its engine solutions and customised configurations are made at its state-of-the-art factory in Tasmania.

Currawong Engineering has built a reputation for solving critical problems in the UAV industry by providing reliable and high-performance power systems. Over the last two years, the company’s biggest selling product has been the Electronic

Speed Controller (ESC). This product has seen a 47% increase in export sales in the past year.

Visit Currawong Engineering website.

Frosty Boy Global has been innovating for nearly 50 years. It offers an extensive range of powder-based flavour solutions spanning desserts, beverages, bakery goods, savoury foods, and nutrition products. Local cafes through to multinational quick-service restaurants use these complete powder product solutions to create exceptional culinary experiences. 

Frosty Boy Global exports to 65 countries. These include high GDP growth markets like India, Korea, Malaysia, the Middle East, the Philippines, the US and Vietnam. A recent partnership with a convenience store chain in India saw Frosty Boy Global selling to an exciting new customer base.

Visit Frosty Boy Global website.

Gelflex is Australia’s largest specialty contact lens manufacturer and only manufacturer of disposable contact lens. Its lenses are made in Perth using an automated robotic engineering process developed in-house. It produces more than 55 million lenses per year. 

The company supports a global distribution chain and has offices in four countries. It exports to 35 countries including the largest contact lens market in the world, the US. In the past year, there has been significant growth in Europe and Indonesia. Gelfex has recently invested in two new lines to meet growing export demand and is developing two more lines in the coming year. Other key export markets include India, Israel, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.

Visit Gelflex website.

Pharmako Biotechnologies specialises in advanced delivery systems for nutrients and medicines. Its solutions improve absorption and add functionality at microscopic and sub-microscopic levels. Pharmako’s competitive edge is bringing unique, Australian developed and made, micro and nanotechnologies to the supplement and pharmaceutical markets.

Its formulations reduce dose size, increase the efficacy and improve patient compliance. These lead to better health outcomes, more efficient use of resources and longer-term sustainability.  

Pharmako has customers using Australian-made materials in countries across the world. Key markets include Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and the US. Pharmako has commercialised four distinct technologies, with two more in the pipeline. 

Visit Pharmako Biotechnologies website.

REDARC is a family-owned electronics company powering mobility, discovery and exploration. It provides mobile, off-grid energy and safety management solutions to customers across the world. Founded in 1979, REDARC has flourished into a world-class advanced electronics manufacturer.  

One of the hallmarks of REDARC is the unique blend of local manufacturing and high-quality solutions, with unrivalled after-sales and technical support. REDARC employs more than 380 people, with staff located in Australia, Canada, Italy, New Zealand and the US. Its products are warehoused and distributed from New Zealand, Poland and the US. In 2022, REDARC products were shipped to over 50 countries. Key export markets include New Zealand, Europe, the UK and the US.

Visit REDARC website.

SPEE3D’s mission is to provide customers with the most advanced and efficient metal 3D printing solutions on the market.

It designs and manufactures metal 3D printers and integrated solutions based on patented cold-spray technology. This enables faster, lower-cost, and more scalable production than other metal printing techniques. Clients span the aerospace, defence, automotive and medical sectors.

SPEE3D has a global presence with offices in Europe and the US. Its global network of distributors and partners ensures its customers receive the highest level of service and support, no matter where they are. Its key export markets include Asia, Europe and the US.

Visit SPEE3D website.