This week the Minister of Research, Science and Technology, the Hon Pete Hodgson will award the first Technology
Commendation.
The commendations were launched earlier this year by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and celebrate
the use of innovation for commercial success.
Five New Zealand businesses throughout the North Island will be commended for transforming their innovative ideas into
tangible business opportunities.
The dates are as follows: Thursday 14 September, 9.30am till 10.30am Sullivan & Haddon Group Ltd 6 Avenger Place, Glendene, Auckland Presentation by the Minister for Research, Science and Technology,
Hon Pete Hodgson. Product demonstration included.
Monday 18 September, 3.30pm till 4.30pm New Zealand Dairy Group Level 1, Conference Centre Anchor House, 80 London
Street, Hamilton Presentation by Hon Martin Gallagher
Friday 29 September, 10.00am till 11.00am Integration Technologies Ltd Level 7, AXA Centre, Fitzherbert Ave, Palmerston
North Presentation by Hon Steve Maharey
Monday 9 October, 3.30pm till 4.30pm Industrial Research Ltd, (Special Chairman’s Award) B Dent Global Ltd (BDG),
International Dynamometers NZ Ltd IRL cafeteria, Gracefield Research Centre, Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt Presentation by
the Minister for Research, Science and Technology, Hon Pete Hodgson.
Media representatives are most welcome at all events, attached are some brief notes about all of the companies.
If you would like any further information please contact: Madeleine Setchell, Foundation for Research, Science and
Technology Tel 04 498 7806, Mobile 025 40 60 40, { HYPERLINK "mailto:madelein@frst.govt.nz" }madelein@frst.govt.nz
Notes about companies:
West Auckland’s Dixon and Haddon Structural Steel Ltd, part of Sullivan & Haddon Group, will receive a commendation for its recently developed Kinetic Beamline 600. The $1.5 million Kinetic
Beamline 600 machine uses computer-controlled robotics to automate high-pressure water cutting in the labour-intensive
steel fabrication process. The machine and the impact of its associated technology has meant an increase in labour
productivity by up to 10 times depending on the nature of the work.
Crown Research Institute, Industrial Research Ltd will receive a Special Chairman’s Award from the Foundation for its
work with other technology award winners in industries as diverse as manufacturing, natural product processing and
biopharmaceuticals. IRL was formed in 1992 with the objective of being a catalyst for New Zealand’s development as an
advanced technology, value-added economy.
Lower Hutt company B Dent Global Ltd (BDG), will receive a commendation for its recent achievements in synthesising
organic chemicals for the drug testing industry. As a result of developing this and other technologies, the company has
gone from financial strength to strength. The company is now securing 90 per cent of its sales overseas with turnover
increasing at an average of 56 per cent over the last four years. Profit has also grown and BDG has added staff along
the way and is looking to recruit more people a the PhD level.
Lower Hutt company International Dynamometers NZ Ltd will receive a commendation for their Dynapack™ chassis
dynamometer. Established six years ago, IDL, which is New Zealand owned and operated, has reaped the rewards of
technological innovation. From a single unit sold to Japan in 1997 to 22 units sold last year and 52 units to May 2000,
Dynapack™ is now the market leader in Japan.
Hamilton based company New Zealand Dairy Group has been awarded a commendation for their innovative work into the
commercial extraction of complex lipids derived from dairy sources. The New Zealand Dairy Group received their first
order for the complex lipids in 1997 and since then has grown the business to a multi-million dollar turnover in 1998/99
and are predicting 14 per cent growth in the next financial year.
Brendon Deere, Chief Executive of Palmerston North company Integration Technologies Ltd. They have been awarded a
Technology Commendation in recognition of their innovative and successful service station and retail integration
package, ‘The Enabler’. The company developed ‘The Enabler’ software package from scratch and the product has huge
worldwide market potential. Regards, Christine