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Last Year’s winners of the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce of Business Excellence Awards, Innovation category, Fountx product engineer Karl Von Richter, general manager Laurence Beraldo and systems engineer Ben Evans.

Fountx_AsR is a wearable computer inside a backpack attached to a headset that includes a camera, microphone and eye-level display screen. Its purpose is to enable a remote technician to work on an aeroplane and be in touch with an expert who can see what the technician sees. This enables an expert to be able to instruct the technician from virtually anywhere in the world. Fountx_AsR systems engineer Ben Evans developed the software to bring the wearable computer to reality. “The original concept came from the CSIRO. Our company, TAE Aerospace, were looking for ways to save on the down time it would take to fix engines on the ground, sometimes thousands of kilometres away, so we bought the licence from CSIRO and developed the product.” he said. “I have been working on the project for the past two years. Some of that is the programming, some fireware development and focusing on creating software that enables the product to work. The St Edmunds College old boy also enjoys being able to work so close to home. “It’s good to be able to work in my hometown of Ipswich and support the area. It’s an easy drive to work,” he said. Reflecting on last year’s win in the Ipswich Business Excellence Awards, Mr Evans was thrilled to be a part of it. “It was good to be recognised for your work.”

Fountx general manager Laurence Beraldo said winning the category gave his business a boost. “The Fountx team was very excited to win the innovation category, sponsored by Konica Minolta, at the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards last year,” he said. “It’s a privilege to work with such talented people from the local Ipswich community taking their ideas and smarts to the world. Since winning the category we have received amazing interest from all over the globe with our real-time remote mentoring technology being trialled by some of the biggest names in manufacturing, support and service, as well as the health and medical fields. “The Fountx_AsR system was developed, commercialised and is being manufactured in SE Qld with the brains behind it coming from people in Ipswich.” Ipswich Chamber president Phillip Bell said the awards are a superb opportunity for business owners, managers and staff to assess their business performance, celebrate their successes and look to the future.

“Last year the Ipswich Chamber received over 450 nominations spanning the nine award categories and this year is shaping up to be another record year,” he said. “The Ipswich Business Community continues to grow strongly on the back of continuing strong population and development growth in the region. This past year has seen another year of exceptional performances throughout the community which exceeds state and national averages and these successes big and small should be celebrated and recognised. “The City of Ipswich Business Excellence Awards give the business community the opportunity to celebrate these accomplishments and benchmark their business against others in similar industries.”