WITH the manufacturing industry counting down to find out the winners of the 8th annual Endeavour Awards at a dinner ceremony in Melbourne on 25 May, major sponsor BlueScope Steel wishes all 99 finalists ‘good luck’ on the night, and marvels at the extremely high calibre of entries for 2011.
The Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards program was designed to reward Australian companies that have excelled in developing new manufacturing technology, or instigated new practices that have given their firm a competitive edge. The program was developed to harbour a culture of competition and innovation among local manufacturers and, seven years later, close to 100 finalist companies prove Australian manufacturing is among the best in the world.
According to BlueScope Steel acting general manager – Industrial Markets, Steve Gregson, it is not just the large firms that are the forefront of manufacturing innovation, but the smaller players continually show their worth in competitions like these.
"No matter how big or small your manufacturing organisation, you make a vital contribution to the Australian economy and provide Australian consumers with a choice of locally-manufactured goods. Australian manufacturers employ and train Australians, and support other businesses who supply goods and services to your company," he told Manufacturers’ Monthly.
BlueScope Steel is a manufacturer and supplier of flat steel products in Australia, and is once again the major sponsor of the 2011 Endeavour Awards.
According to Gregson, this year’s Endeavour Awards is particularly poignant as it comes at a time when local manufacturing is recovering from some of the hardest few years on record.
"Although the global financial crisis is ‘technically’ over, not all sectors of the economy have fully recovered – our resource sector is booming while the foreign exchange rate and imports are hurting the local manufacturing sector," Gregson said.
"BlueScope Steel recognises the effort of other manufacturers in this important industry and seeks to acknowledge your innovation through process, investments, projects and people."
Finalists in the hotly-contested Technology Application of the Year and the new Manufacturers’ Monthly’s 50th Anniversary – Most Innovative Manufacturing Company 1961-2011 categories are revealed in this issue from page 88. The finalists for the previously-announced ten categories can be found online at www.manmonthly.com.au, or in the April 2011 issue of the magazine.
We look forward to seeing you on the night!
Tickets: Alex Evans 02 9422 2890, alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au
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