Over the past year or so while many local companies have retrenched in the economic recession some export businesses have prospered and experienced significant growth.
The best of those successful companies have been recognised as finalists in the latest Export NZ Bay of Plenty-organised awards.
Katikati's Puma Dart Products, the overall winner in 2002, Kawerau's Allied Industrial Engineering (AIE), and Rotorua's Peterson Portable Sawmills are the three finalists in the Bay of Plenty supreme exporter of the year award.
Steve Bird Winery and Vineyards, Pollen Plus and Fast Craft - all from Tauranga - make up the final line-up for the emerging exporter of the year.
Head judge Hugh King said it was fantastic to see such sustained growth amongst the finalists when "you are looking at difficult times in commerce internationally".
Mr King said the finalists have implemented carefully-designed plans to grow in a competitive
global market, and "what's exciting is the diversity of the companies. They are providing unique products.
"The Bay has been known for its primary and agribusiness (kiwfruit, dairy, timber) and what we are seeing is exporting companies developing a point of difference around technologies, involving design and research and development. They have become leaders in their fields," Mr King said.
"The big thing is the array of talent around the Bay - it's a real eye opener," he said.
AIE, which employs about 20 skilled tradesmen, is right up there in precision engineering and the judges were impressed to learn that its services include re-bushing frigate propellers.
The Kawerau company will undertake any major engineering job.
Peterson Portable Sawmills, operating for 30 years, produced the world's first commercial swingblade sawmill.
Here's what its website says: "While other variations come and go, Petersons continue to be leaders in innovation and design. Today, we promote a range of the most versatile portable sawmills in the world."
In our tall poppy syndrome, you know that modest Kiwis don't boast about their prowess.
The same can be said for Puma Dart Products, which is arguably the world's leading manufacturer in darts and dartboards.
The established company is this month celebrating its 40th anniversary and it is already exporting to 70 countries, but it has continued to innovate.
Puma Dart Products produced an environmentally friendly version of its renowned Bandit Plus boards including recycling plastic, and it launched its own Shot! brand of darts that have a distinctive grip and improved balance.
Managing director Peter McCormick said his company grew about 12 per cent in the past financial year. "Not many companies can say that in the export markets in the last year.
"Before we were focussed on selling to the big international chains but we decided to go into niche marketing and push the high-end, quality side.
Puma Dart Products have organised new distribution networks in United States, United Kingdom through Holland, Thailand, Hong Kong and South America to increase its penetration .
It is also close to signing up a distributor in the previously difficult Canadian market and it is supplying high-end darts and boards to mainland China, even though the Chinese is making its cheaper product for the rest of the world.
Mr McCormick was just as chuffed that his company was named a finalist in the innovation award, alongside Pollen Plus which is moving into robotic packers and harvesters, and Trimax Mowing Systems, which continue to improve on its tractor-mounted mowers used for parks and reserves in United Kingdom, Europe, United States and Australia.
"It shows we are doing things a little bit differently than other rivals," said Mr McCormick.
The awards dinner on June 25 at the Baypark Convention Centre will also announce the export achiever of the year from finalists Jevon Priestly, sales and marketing manager for AIE; Plant and Food Research scientist Alan Seal; Trevor Vile, Baytex's sales manager with 22 years' experience with the tent manufacturing company; Scott Coulter, marketing manager of global natural heath products company Comvita New Zealand;
and Gwenda Merriman, co-president of Export NZ Bay of Plenty and director of established family business Jeffco International.
On the night, the judges will also announce the winner of the Zespri International Service to Export award.
But before then, the judges Peter Luxton, Kelvin Trask, Robert Hill, Murray Hill and Mr King will conduct personal interviews with the finalists in the categories.
Downturn beaten as firms prosper for Bay awards
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