Investment in Ipswich has continued into 2018 with statistics revealing more than 400 new businesses were registered in the city during January. Here’s five home-grown success stories that are taking their talents to the world.
fountx
A subsidiary of TAE Aerospace, the largest Australian-owned aerospace company in the world, fountx is wearable technology that allows onsite technicians to collaborate with other experts in a virtual reality environment. fountx users interact in real time to repair and maintain aircraft remotely. The near-eye, hands-free display reduces maintenance downtime while improving accuracy, quality and safety. A fountx headset is being trialled by Singapore-based ST Engineering in a move that could net the Ipswich exporter a $1m contract. fountx is also in talks to trial the technology with Etihad Airlines.
The Golden Bone Bakery
This small business success story is Ipswich to the bone. Everything started in Ipswich – from upscaling at Fire Station 101 to producing natural and nutritional pet treats in the kitchen of The Ipswich Club on Gray Street. Golden Bone Bakery products are now on sale in Singapore after owner Katharina von Heusinger secured her first export deal late last year. Leading retailer Paws Avenue stocks the Golden Bone range, declaring it “the best pet treat company from Australia”.
Trisco Foods
Owned and operated by the Tristram family, producers of food and beverage products since 1875, Trisco exports to the highly-competitive American market. The Carole Park company sends one container a week to the US and will this year increase production by 30 per cent to meet overseas demand. Trisco produces bakery fillings, jams, coffee syrups, dessert sauces and sundae toppings. It entered the clinical industry five years ago, launching Precise Thick-N INSTANT, the world’s leading liquid thickener concentrate. Trisco will exhibit at the Food & Hotel Asia event in Singapore from 24 to 27 April.
Sang Natural Health
Sang Ha will showcase her range of all natural Australian skincare products at this week’s Expo West event at the Anaheim Convention Centre. Sang Natural Health will become the first Ipswich entity to take part in the expo, joining the Trade and Investment Queensland trade mission to the US. The Springfield-based business has an online store along with a day spa and showroom at Commercial Drive.
Claypave
Dinmore-based Claypave has developed new technology for producing ‘long format’ clay bricks. The move was supported by a $100,000 grant from the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas fund and strengthens Claypave’s burgeoning base in the competitive Japanese market. The next generation products are longer and thinner than traditional bricks, providing new opportunities for designers. Dr Allan Andersen, who retired from Claypave after 35 years on 9 February, will help lead the export side of the business as it continues to service Japan, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States.
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