Victorian innovative, visionary and entrepreneurial businesses and individuals driving the manufacturing industry were recognised this week at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards.
Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula congratulated the winners and finalists for their work in continuing to take Victorian businesses to the next level.
“The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards highlight the strength and competitiveness of Victoria’s manufacturing industry and I want to congratulate all our outstanding winners and finalists,” Minister Pakula said.
“Our manufacturing industry is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths and successfully exports, invests and contributes to our thriving economy.”
Inaugural awards were presented to Air Radiators, awarded the Leader in Innovative Product Development and Commercialisation, and to Holden Special Vehicles, who received the award for Leader in Global Supply Chain Partnerships.
Rochelle Avinu from Leica Biosystems was awarded the Woman Manufacturer of the Year award and Nicholas Orchowski from RUAG Australia received the award for Young Manufacturer of the Year, both for their excellence in leadership and innovation in the manufacturing industry. RUAG Australia was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Manufacturer of the Year (Large Business) was awarded to Dulux Australia, while Robert Bosch Australia took out the Leader in Industry 4.0 award and Barker Trailers was awarded the 2019 Leader in Workforce Skills Development.
Geoffrey Bell was inducted into the Hall of Fame Honour Roll in recognition of the evolution and growth of AW Bell, established as a family pattern making business in 1952 and now employing 100 people.
The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame has been recognising outstanding businesses and individuals in the manufacturing industry since 2001.
Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes over $30 billion to the Victorian economy annually, employs more than 270,000 people and exports over $19.6 billion of goods annually.
The full list of winners and finalists is available here.