AUSTRALIAN exports topped a record $215bn in the 2006-07 financial year, with exports of manufactures, resources and services reaching all-time highs.
Bronx International is typical of Australian manufacturing exporters who are innovating and developing niche markets to achieve global success.
Based in Sydney’s south-west at Peakhurst, Bronx International designs, manufactures and supervises the installation and commissioning of galvanising and paint lines to coat metal sheeting destined mainly for building products such as roofing.
While the process for producing corrugated iron sheeting has not changed a great deal since the 1950s, Bronx International is a world leader in technological advances for the application of zinc coating and preparing the sheeting for post-painting.
The company has won markets for its technology and installation services in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC), Australia’s export credit agency, recently assisted the company with a financial package for its latest sale to Russia.
EFIC’s support involves an export finance guarantee and an advance payment bond for the US$8.2m project to design and supply a galvanising line for Bronx International’s Russian customer, Samara Reservoir Plant.
The project is Bronx International’s third contract with the Russian company, which manufactures a range of industrial, commercial and domestic building-related products.
“Without EFIC’s support it might not have been possible to put together the financing package for our latest project in Russia,” said Rod Sawyers, MD of Bronx International.
EFIC is providing an export finance guarantee to support a loan from HSBC Bank plc London to the buyer’s bank, the State-owned Russian Bank for Development, which is funding the galvanising line purchase.
“This facility represents EFIC’s first export finance guarantee to HSBC and highlights our commitment to working creatively with the commercial market to provide flexible and innovative financial solutions for Australian exporters,” said EFIC’s MD Angus Armour.
EFIC also issued an advance payment bond in favour of the Russian buyer as security for advance payments made by the buyer to Bronx International under the contract.
Bronx International takes pride in being a wholly Australian-owned exporter. Its origins date back to the UK in the 1940s.
The company’s more recent history involves a friendly management buy-out nearly 20 years ago that brought together the combined talents of a team expert in production line processing and another with a strong background in heavy engineering.
According to Sawyers the combination of talents gives Bronx International a definite market edge against international competitors who bring only the heavy engineering component to the table.
“We design, manufacture and supervise the installation and commissioning of galvanising and paint lines but as part of our approach we teach our clients how to galvanise and paint,” Sawyers said.
“That makes us rather unique as a line builder in the world. Very few companies have their own in-house technology and training department. It’s definitely a market differentiator.
“An important customer in China said a Bronx project had turned rice paddy farm workers into galvanising line operators. These were non-technical people who came from the local rural community and that is typical of what happens with many of our customers,” Sawyer said.
For more information contact:
Bronx International
sales@bronx.com.au
EFIC
info@efic.gov.au
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