Best business – $10m to $50m

An aircraft interior design engineering business, Altitude Aerospace Interiors has grown exports by 400 percent during the past four years, specialising in the cabin interior market for Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft.

Part of the Air New Zealand Group of companies, Altitude targets two niche markets: the interiors of multi-million dollar VIP/executive jets owned by governments or heads of state, well-heeled individuals and corporations; and premium airlines, which strive to create customised cabins to use as a point of difference in the marketplace.

General Manager Michael Pervan says Altitude has three main product offerings: design, manufacture and installation of  VIP aircraft interiors; reconfiguration of aircraft interiors for airlines; and design and manufacture of products for airlines, such as bars, closets and partitions for large Boeing jet airliners.

“In the VIP aircrafts interiors market we are the only interior completion centre outside Europe and the United States that is recognised by Boeing Business Jet. We recently secured a contract to deliver a full fit out for a Boeing Business Jet VIP interior for an Asian based customer, the first such contract signed outside of the incumbent interior suppliers for over a decade.”

Mr Pervan says Altitude’s premium airline customers are airlines that differentiate themselves by avoiding the generic interiors used by more conservative airlines, typically chosen straight out of the OEM (original equipment manufacture) catalogue.

“We are recognised for our ability to provide highly customised aircraft furniture that meets both the extremely rigorous regulatory standards for commercial jet aircraft, yet also meets the customer’s expectations for differentiating their premium cabins.”

Altitude takes its customers’ concept all the way to fruition, including design, engineering, building (via its partnership network), installation and certification. Its competitive advantage lies in its ability to leverage IP to design these complex aviation products.

www.altitude-ai.com

Gallagher Security Management Systems has a reputation for supplying state-of-the-art, reliable solutions to address one of the most significant issues facing global organisations large and small – security.

Part of the Gallagher Group of companies, the security division of is a hub of innovation, design and manufacturing which successfully markets its products to over 130 countries via the business unit’s expansive network of channel partners worldwide.  Products include Cardax electronic access control and intruder alarms systems, and PowerFence^TM electric perimeter security systems that actively deter and detect any would-be intruder.

Gallagher Group Chief Executive, Bill Gallagher says its security systems are installed on thousands of sites around the world, and are used for a wide variety of purposes. These include camp management in mines, deterring inmates from prison escape attempts, and combating the threat of terrorism at ports and airports.

While the security division is very successful in its own right, Mr Gallagher believes what sets it apart is its ability to leverage the competencies and resources from other business units within the whole Gallagher Group.

“Our in-house resources for tool making, plastics and electronics manufacturing and logistics mean that production can be controlled end to end from concept design to manufacturing. The benefits of this include quality control, rapid development and deployment to manufacture, and the ability to produce economic short runs as well as large production capability. All of this is centrally managed on our Hamilton site.”

Mr Gallagher says the an R&D team of 90-plus staff have detailed and deep knowledge of the security sector, including electric fence technology, radio frequency identification, IT and security requirements, data encryption, high security applications, systems integration and industrial design.

“Our significant investment in R&D ensures we win a competitive advantage in the security market, proven by over 160 patents worldwide.”

www.gallagher.co

The ability to design and develop innovative animal health delivery solutions for major pharmaceutical multinationals worldwide is at the heart of Simcro’s growing success.

Based in Hamilton, Simcro is a leading supplier of delivery systems for animal health pharmaceutical products. These include injectors, applicators and containers, plus a wide range of accessories. Over 90 percent of its sales are to international clients.

Given the regulatory environment Simcro’s customers operate in, it is difficult to convince companies to change suppliers of a delivery system when they have been using a competitor’s product successfully for a number of years, explains Chief Executive Will Rouse.

In more recent years, therefore, Simcro has shifted its focus towards being an innovator, working in collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies to develop new delivery and packaging solutions for existing and new product formulations.

“Our international presence, research, innovation, design skills, and proven track record on several key projects is resulting in a growing number of pharmaceutical companies moving more of their business to us,” says Mr Rouse.

In 2009, after what he describes as an exhaustive process, Simcro launched new products with two multi-national animal health clients. The company’s Optiline drencher and Sekurus safety injector are the first generation of new and innovative products.

“These delivery devices are at the cutting edge of research and design in this sector.”

Simcro’s highly qualified R&D team has grown from two to 12 in the past three years, and now works on more than 30 projects annually. These can span several years and are highly confidential.

Mr Rouse says growing international sales generate the cash flow necessary to fund Simcro’s ambitious R&D programme and international travel so it can build vital relationships.

“The multi-national companies we supply are not only involved in livestock health, but human health and companion animals, so there is exciting potential to significantly grow the business into these new areas.”

This company is also a finalist in the Best use of research and development in international business category.

www.simcro.com

The Sweet Shop, an international film production company headquartered in New Zealand, launched in 2001 and quickly set its sights on becoming a global leader.

As an exporter of New Zealand’s best creative talent, it has won a plethora of awards and generated millions in earnings. With five offices now strategically placed in both hemispheres, it is recognised as one of the top 30 production companies in the world.

Working with advertising agencies and their clients across the globe, The Sweet Shop offers a unique fusion of an internationally aligned production house with the ability to produce commercials in high-value centres like New Zealand, Chief Executive Paul Prince explains.

“The combination of great creative talent, an innovative brand and a sound economic plan established our reputation for tenacity and creativity, something that has proved to be very profitable.

“Our model enabled us to position ourselves in the more mature markets like the United States, Europe/United Kingdom and Australia first; then emerging markets such as India, the Middle East and North Africa, and China. It’s a strategy that’s resulted in unparalleled international growth and generation of sales.”

Physical presence in these territories also ensures control of the business and consistency in the brand.

“This is particularly important for us, as The Sweet Shop is built around a philosophy of passion for craft and art of storytelling. Maintaining the integrity of our brand is of paramount importance.”

With a mandate that ‘local is the new global’, The Sweet Shop seeks to continue delivering a premium international product that celebrates the humanity within every culture.

www.thesweetshop.tv