Leading Wellington high-tech exporter 4RF wins major technology grant to fund future growth
Wellington based 4RF Communications will receive $1.3m of TechNZ assistance over the next 12 months to create new
features and security measures for its radio technology, used in electricity and other utility networks. Under the
TechNZ grant, 4RF will receive this money to assist in funding research and development costs for the project from the
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology’s business growth programme. 4RF will be adding new jobs and new skills
to its world class research and development group with a head count increase of more than 40% this year enabled by the
funding.
Ian Troughton, CEO at 4RF, comments: “We are very pleased to be recognised by the Foundation for Research, Science and
Technology and through the support provided be able to invest more this year in growing the business to address the huge
demand across the utility sector for our products. The funding will allow us to hire more staff in the short term and
thus reduce the time to market for enhanced features for our industry leading monitoring and control products which are
used to improve performance and efficiencies in electricity, water, gas and transport networks around the world.”
Aided by the Foundation’s investment 4RF will be able to deliver even more value to customers investing in revitalising
aging infrastructure to meet sustainability goals and the security challenges of the next decade. 4RF’s products are
deployed in 118 countries throughout the world. Commenting on customers, Mr Troughton said “Our existing products have
been used extensively in the utility sector and by some of the most important players in the market, helping them
improve their monitoring, control and asset visibility. Overseas competition in this business is strong but we’ve proved
that 4RF and New Zealand has the pedigree and strength in R, design and manufacturing to deliver winning solutions.”
ends