By CASEY NEILL
ASTRALPOOL was the first of the 12 nominees showcased at the 25th Premier Regional Business Awards.
The Noble Park-based company took home an award from the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce in 2002.
The packed function room at Sandown Greyhounds on Wednesday 13 April heard that the pool maintenance business would move into an energy-efficient, purpose-built factory in Keysborough in June.
It’s grown from 100 employees to 270 and $20 million revenue to more than $100 million.
Managing director Peter Wallace said product development was an important part of the business.
“We’ve started developing six to 10 products a year,” he said.
MC Jamie Sturgess said the past four trains Bombardier Transportation produced in Dandenong contained at least 60 per cent local content – and up to 68 per cent.
“I think 60 per cent is good,” managing director Rene Lalande said.
“What we need is more trains at that level.”
Mr Lalande said the company had 629 supply chain partners in Greater Dandenong and surrounds.
“Those relationships make our trains better,” he said.
Fantech won the 2009 Premier Regional Business Award and that year’s Employment Award, and was an inductee into The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marketing director Paul de Bruin said “in very simple terms we do make fans” but that electronically controlling ventilation and air quality was the company’s focus.
Dandenong-based Patterson Cheney celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
The car and truck supplier and servicer employs 580 people, has a $600 million annual turnover and services up to 700 cars each day.
Mr Sturgess described Entapack’s liquid packaging products as “like an oversized wine cask”.
The business started in Dandenong in 1986 as a family-owned operation and in July 2006, Vincent Papaluca sold the business to Sealed Air.
It’s one of the only bag manufacturers in the world certified to Japan dairy standards.
“Our biggest overseas market is Japan,” Entapack’s Chris Thorpe explained.
Sealite CEO Chris Proctor’s father was an electronics hobbyist who took inspiration from lights at a Beaumaris aquaculture farm.
He told the farmer he could design a better product and spent the next 15 years making them in a shed.
Sealite has been manufacturing marine aids since 1982, has expanded into Avlite aviation systems, and services armed forces and humanitarian aid operators.
Dandenong’s SRX Global helps people to commercialise, manufacture and fund products.
“We’re creating business where business wouldn’t exist,” managing director Jeff Malone said.
It’s the Australian market leader in electronics and full product build contract manufacturing, as well as service and repair.
There wouldn’t be many companies with a 77-year corporate plan – but Tycab has just that.
“We’re going to be here for a very long time,” director David McNeil said.
Tycab manufacturers oxygen-free and tinned copper electrical cable products.
The late Sir William Tyree founded the company 30 years ago.
He had a passion for education and ensured that half of the company’s profits would go to supporting university studies.
