By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
HALLAM-based Wastech Engineering has added an international award to its rapidly filling trophy collection.
On 27 June, the recycling manufacturers were presented by Danish Ambassador Borge Petersen and Danish deputy consul general Rikke Scheel Gamborg with the lofty His Royal Highness Prince Heinrik’s Medal of Honour.
The award recognises Wastech’s service to trade relations between Denmark and Australia.
The ties had been forged between Wastech director Neil Bone and Danish-based company Bramidan chief executive Henrik Dueholm Madsen during a chat at an expo in Melbourne in 2001.
Since then Wastech has distributed a growing number of Bramidan’s cardboard balers in a variety of sizes to supermarkets and other businesses in Australia. In that time, both partners have prospered.
Mr Madsen returned to Australia for a two-day visit especially for the formal medal presentation.
He told Star News he had chosen to partner Wastech 15 years ago on “pure stomach feeling”.
“We have grown together. Bramidan is now four to five times bigger.
“We have a very big market share in Australia, and (Wastech) are one of our best distributors globally.”
Mr Bone said at the time of the first encounter Wastech was in its infancy.
“We started with nothing. We were starting behind the pack.”
Now Wastech turns over $45 million annually – more than seven times the figure in 2001.
Mr Bone said Wastech had compared notes with its Danish partner on such things as quality standards and service networks.
Ambassador Petersen said the prestigious medal recognised a company that had achieved excellence in promoting Danish products over a number of years.
“It’s something one can be proud of,” Ambassador Petersen said.
