Best use of research and development

Family-owned sheet metal production and fabrication business Metalform (Dannevirke) Ltd has designed and developed a high-tech pediatric wheelchair and signed a global distribution agreement with one of the world’s leading mobile wheelchair suppliers.

Metalform’s wheelchair was launched into the United States in late 2008, and into Europe the following May, with plans for it to be progressively rolled out around the rest of the world. Sales to date have exceeded forecasts, says General Manager Allan Benbow.

Securing a world distribution agreement for the wheelchair with Permobil AB of Sweden, one of the world’s leading mobile wheelchair suppliers, was a major undertaking as Metalform had to meet stringent product certification requirements.

Mr Benbow says the unique design and capability features of Metalform’s chair – which is aimed at people weighing up to 60kg who are severely disabled – provides a good level of protection from competing products and large-scale manufacturers.

A strong design capability supports Metalform’s development of products for its traditional jobbing customers. It is also helping the company expand into a range of branded products that it markets itself in New Zealand and internationally.

Mr Benbow says investment in the latest available technology, along with robotics, ensures it is solidly placed to competitively manufacture the innovative designs being produced.

“Our design team welcomes complex challenges and has built a strong reputation for producing innovative solutions. Good design has also been employed in our tow and collect, and tow and mow, farm machinery products as well as our new fertiliser machine. We also design and supply components for products exported by other New Zealand manufacturers.”

R&D is critical to Metalform’s success and it has a rolling list of potential products it carries out research on to test their viability. Staff work with end-users and distribution partners to integrate feedback into the products to ensure that they are continually meeting the needs of customers.

This company is also a finalist in the Best use of design in international business category.

www.metalform.co.nz

From humble beginnings almost 100 years ago, Scott Technology has evolved into a publicly listed automation business, and a world leader in several niche markets.

Located in Dunedin, this specialist engineering firm is investing heavily in R&D to support new product development and its expansion into new export markets, says Managing Director Chris Hopkins.

Today the company operates in several sectors, however its main success has traditionally been in the appliance industry, where it designs and builds automated production lines for the world’s leading whitegoods manufacturers.

“Over the past several years we have also invested heavily in research and development in the meat industry and in other areas of our business. This has seen our international revenue grow dramatically and our opportunities and potential increase significantly,” says Mr Hopkins

“Our extensive R&D programme in the meat processing side of the business means we now have 11 patents either pending or granted, plus international trademarks and design copyrights.

“This R&D has produced technology that is aimed at large volume lamb and beef processors within New Zealand and Australia. Our innovations potentially can offer significant value to customers in automating what to date has largely been a manual process. We have few competitors in this new field of automation and robotics within the boning room of our major customers.”

In the mining market, Scott Technology has developed a small range of standalone equipment used by on-site mine labs and commercial labs as part of the sample preparation process. More recently it has leveraged off its automation expertise to expand further into providing automated systems that process samples ready for analysis.

In the industrial automation side of the business Scott partners with companies to take on the role of their in-house engineering department to design and build automation or production solutions.

www.scott.co.nz

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 business operating internationally – $10m to $50m category.

www.simcro.com