By CASEY NEILL
BERWICK’S Australian Precision Technologies (APT) won a top manufacturing award just a few months ago and is already in the running for another.
The family-owned and operated business took home the Small Manufacturer of the Year title at June’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards.
It’s now in the running for the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the Casey Cardinia Business Awards alongside Hallam’s Wastech Engineering and fellow Berwick business Successful Endeavours.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner a Cranbourne Racing Centre on 22 October.
APT was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame last year and picked up the manufacturing award at the inaugural Casey Cardinia Business Awards.
“It’s recognition for all our hard work and commitment in a challenging manufacturing industry,” co-director Ron Weinzierl said.
“With government and industry support we’ll be able to develop into a world-class manufacturer.”
Ron’s brother Richard Weinzierl founded the company in 1992.
Ron came on board in 1998 and said APT was now leading the market on national and global fronts with clients in aerospace, defence, automotive, biomedical and telecommunications.
“We’re known for precision engineering – we make stuff that people can make into products,” Ron said.
“Flexibility is the key for our future business.”
Successful Endeavours is also up for the Business and Professional Services Business of the Year title alongside Hampton Park business Jotterbug Creative and Pakenham’s MetamorphCG.
Managing director Ray Keefe started Successful Endeavours as a home-based business in 1997.
“By 2005 I realised I didn’t know how to make this thing grow,” he said.
Mr Keefe went looking for a business mentor and tracked down the right one in 2008.
He rebranded the business, repositioned it in the market and moved out of home into commercial premises.
“Four months after that we won Casey Business of the Year,” he said.
The Berwick small business has since collected several award nominations and wins.
Wastech Engineering was a finalist for the Medium Manufacturer of the Year title at this year’s Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards.
It won the Manufacturing Award at March’s Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Awards and took home the Casey Business of the Year and Casey Manufacturer of the Year awards for 2013.
In May last year it won the Melbourne South East (MSE) Business Awards Business of the Year Overall Business Excellence award and Medium Enterprise category.
Brothers Neil and Paul Bone started Wastech in 1993 after largely working on trucks involved in the waste business during their time as diesel motor mechanics.
The business has grown from a three-man band to an industry leader with more than 90 staff and a turnover pushing $30 million.
Wastech’s customers range from large national retail stores and shopping centre developments to suburban retailers and its equipment includes front lift trucks, static compactors, bin lifters and bins.
“Innovation and outstanding customer service keeps us ahead of our competitors and high quality product ensures we stay there,” Neil said.
