Forty years after starting out in business, self-made man Sir Ken Stevens has won the inaugural award, Exporters Champion for Exemplary Services to Export, at the Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Auckland Awards 2012.

Award winners were announced Friday night at a gala dinner at the Langham Auckland hotel.

A ‘this is your life’ presentation acknowledged Sir Ken from childhood through to starting out in business in his late 20s with two small children, and growing it – Glidepath – forward to today’s global success.

Sir Ken was New Zealand 2007 Export Champion and knighted the following year for services to export.

Since then he has led trade missions to China, Vietnam and Malaysia, and addressed countless occasions to encourage businesses and inspire students.

Si Ken is a real Kiwi bloke who loves his family, rugby, yachting and beer.

The award acknowledges Sir Ken’s ongoing service to New Zealand business from exporters themselves, who know how hard a life of business travel can be on families, and how resilient and generous Ken himself always is.

The company winners were:

1) Supreme Award and

Winner of the Westpac Exporter of the Year Award 2012 (Total sales over $35 million)

(The Supreme Award winner is selected by all the award judges from the winners of each category. The Westpac Exporter of the Year is a company recognised for excellence in building extraordinary and sustainable export growth.)

Temperzone Ltd

Temperzone Ltd designs and manufactures air conditioning systems for commercial, industrial and residential applications.

The other finalists in this category were:

Jack links NZ Ltd manufactures beef snacks that are a good source of protein and iron, with fewer calories, fat and carbs per serving than most other snacks.

GMP Pharmaceuticals Ltd manufactures natural health products of Australia and New Zealand origin such as complementary medicines, dietary supplements, functional foods and infant formula.

2) QBE Insurance Exporter of the Year (total sales under $35million)

A company recognized for excellence in building extraordinary and sustainable export growth.

Canary Enterprises Ltd

Canary Enterprises manufactures value-add dairy and selected non-dairy products, such as butter medallions, butter sheets, clarified butter and apricot cream cheese disks.

The other category finalists were:

Patton Ltd makes and supplies components for refrigeration, air conditioning or mechanical services system, such as condensing units, air-cooled condensers, unit coolers, dry coolers and water chillers.

Temprecord International Ltd produces temperature recording equipment used in food processing, scientific processes and other industries.

3) TNT Express Emerging Exporter of the Year

A company recognized for excellence in getting started to secure a sustainable export business.

Madeblunt Ltd

Madeblunt Ltd designs and markets innovative umbrellas using patented technology trademarked as the “Blunt umbrellas” brand.

The other category finalists were:

NZ New Milk Ltd produces premium, quality infant formula that is consumer specific, in packaging individualized to the customers’ specification.

Worldwide Access Ltd sells online and ships New Zealand products fast to customers in North America, Europe and Asia, a new way of exporting enabled by technology.

Brolly Sheets Ltd designs and makes waterproof bedding and chair pads, and toilet training aids.

4) Endace Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year

A company recognized for excellence in building extraordinary and sustainable export growth, working in the areas of electronic, computer software and hardware, IT systems or other products based on these technologies.

Orion Health Ltd

Orion Health Ltd is a major software developer, providing world class leading healthcare integration software and clinical workflow solutions to hospitals and other health organisations worldwide.

The other category finalists were:

Xlerate Ltd develops, delivers and integrates GPS vehicle tracking and telematic solutions to large and small scale commercial fleets and consumer vehicles.

Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd produces turnkey solutions and equipment for sorting and packing fruit.

5) Baldwins Intellectual Property Best Use of Commercialisation of Innovation

A company recognized for excellence in the commercialisation of innovation to achieve a profitable and self-sufficient business.

ENSID Technologies Ltd

ENSID Technologies is a global pioneer of polymer RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder tags manufactured using patented plastic infusion technology for using on tracking animals, fish and much, much more.

The other category finalists were:

Straker Interactive Ltd provides online translation company for documents and multi-lingual websites.

enlight photo Ltd designs and creates practical, inventive products and software for photographers.

6) BDO Deal of the Year

A company recognised for the strategic planning that underpinned the successful deal, and which received recognition for the innovation, tenacity and calibre of the deal executed since January 1st 2011. The market position achieved since is critical.

Compac Sorting Equipment Ltd

Compac Sorting Equipment designs and builds highly sophisticated turnkey solutions and equipment for sorting and packing a wide variety of fruit.

The other category finalists were:

EasiYo Products Ltd manufactures and markets a unique yogurt starter system.

Superyacht Interiors NZ Ltd designs, manufactures and installs super yacht interiors of uncompromising quality anywhere in the world.

 

Background

The Air New Zealand Cargo Auckland Export Awards are run by the Export New Zealand Auckland based at the Employers and Manufacturers Association. All businesses with a base in Auckland are eligible to enter any of the six categories.

(The ExportNZ Bay of Plenty division also runs annual export awards with winners in their BNZ Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards 2012 announced on June 29.)