On the sharp edge

Fiona inspects boards. 121415 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By CASEY NEILL

DANDENONG South’s SRXGlobal and cutting-edge technology go hand in hand.
The electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider is leading the world with many of its innovations.
Last week it won the Large Manufacturer of the Year award at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame gala dinner.
SRXGlobal is the Australian market leader in its field and partners with major innovators domestically and overseas to make its clients’ visions a reality.
It has relationships with companies like Planet Innovation, which constantly receive new ideas they’re asked to commercialise.
They turn to SRXGlobal for prototyping, development and commercial manufacturing.
SRX has established manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and New Zealand and sales offices in Singapore and the UK to complement its headquarters on Kitchen Road.
The headquarters has just under 200 employees and also provides manufacturing and electronic service and repair.
Up to 75 per cent of SRXGlobal’s products end up overseas, with the United States the main recipient and Europe not far behind.
The medical, communications and defence sectors are its core markets. It creates display systems for attack helicopters, battery power control systems for foot soldier electronics, remote radio communication to base systems and data communication security products.
It also manufactures automotive engine management systems for V8 Supercars, mining and industrial lighting and automatic door control systems.
General manager Jeff Malone can see 15 to 20 per cent growth year on year for the next few, with the medical and defence industries the key to making it happen.
He said the company was developing a cheek swab system to replace blood tests and an ultrasound machine the size of a phone.
“The doctor walks around the hospital with an ultrasound like a stethoscope,” he said.
“Or forget the hospital – he can go out in the field.
“That’s the kind of design and manufacturing that’s happening in Melbourne right now.
“If we’re not continuously breaking new ground we’ll fall behind.”