2010 Telstra Business Awards Western Australian Winners

In 2005, four young men in their 20s with no capital started KAPP Engineering from a suburban bedroom. While competitors had their eyes on big resources projects, KAPP’s aim was to find and fill gaps for industrial automation and process control service in Perth’s metropolitan market. Five years later, this boutique Balcatta firm is managing a client base of 200 companies from its own premises, with 75 percent of its business coming from repeat customers. KAPP Engineering’s research found most of its potential clients often relied on the Internet to find expertise to solve process engineering problems. KAPP invested in its website and search engine optimisation to raise its marketplace profile. Reaping the referrals that a quality reputation brings, KAPP also partners with select alliance companies that share its focus on value to win new work.

“While most of our competitors were off working on remote mine sites chasing the ‘big bucks’, our emphasis was on servicing the neglected metropolitan market. It kept our team together and enabled them to go home to their families at the end of most working days.” – Peter Parlongo, Managing Director.

A withdrawal of large vendors from Western Australia created an opportunity for Electro Medical Group (EMG) when it formed in 2003. EMG provides medical equipment repair services to hospitals, laboratories, medical centres and home care patients. Avoiding the need to send vital bio-medical and scientific equipment interstate for repair is an attractive selling point. EMG invests extensive time in staff training so that its 24/7 team is familiar with a vast range of equipment. A client list that includes Joondalup Health Campus, the Department of Defence, Australian Red Cross and St John Ambulance is a measure of the reputation of this Belmont-based company. Its expansion into South Australia in 2008 was a significant milestone. EMG is the authorised service agency for a large number of national and international equipment manufacturers. It is also a sales agent for medical and laboratory equipment such as blood fridges, centrifuges and diagnostic devices.

“Key lessons we have learned are to always reinvest into your company. You need a systematic approach to staff training, IT systems and your processes.” – Mark Higgins, General Manager.

A reputation for excellence – even in extreme conditions in north-west Western Australia - underpins the success for family-owned and operated surveying company Handley Surveys. Handley Surveys was started by then-sole operator Henry Handley in 1976 and the business maintains perfect health, safety and environmental records. In a discipline where accuracy is paramount, most Handley Surveys clients are repeat customers or referrals. Steady growth has brought the company to the point where it employs 28 full-time staff and annually turns over more than $8 million. From its Karratha base, Handley Surveys supplies some of Australia’s most important resources projects and focuses on modular LNG processing plants. It recently acquired a major contract for Woodside/Foster Wheeler Worley for the world's first complete modular LNG facility. Handley Surveys has provided 10 surveyors to fabrication yards in Thailand and assembly sites in Dampier, WA, where accuracy of the construction process is required down to the millimetre.

“The need to accurately match survey construction on one side of the world with near perfect re-assembly on the other side means we must lead our market in the uptake of new technology.” – Alex Handley, Operations Manager.

Many companies claim their products are revolutionary. Malaga office fit-out specialists Quicklock Partitions, say reduced landfill and lower customer costs proves their claim to be an innovator. Their modular partition system, Quicklock, uses environmentally MDF instead of plasterboard because it’s a sustainable product, doesn’t crumble and is re-usable. This dramatically reduces landfill, helping the environment. Quicklock’s patented locking system cuts installation time by up to 75 per cent by doing away with traditional steel studs. The system is also very portable, making re-configuration a breeze and minimising office disruption. Company owner Michael Worthington started Quicklock Partitions with just $300 in 2004. His system has saved clients untold dollars since then. Quicklock is now developing a product for the residential market where wall thickness and insulation present unique challenges. Quicklock’s goal of making its product the industry standard has the potential to change the face of residential and commercial fit-outs forever.

“The Quicklock system allows clients to change layout as the need arises. Re-using the system brings savings and means there’s no need to dump old walls at the tip.” – Michael Worthington, Owner.

Mt Hawthorn bookstore The Bodhi Tree aims to provide worthwhile services to the community that raise consciousness and well-being. Two of the ways it says it is doing this is serving healthy food without additives and co-hosting a philosophy course for a local not-for-profit group. Charities The Bodhi Tree assists include The Prosperous Future School in Zhao Jue, China, an orphanage established by Perth chiropractor, Dr Bernadette Poynter. Local sporting clubs and schools also benefit from donations. The Bodhi Tree is a business but is more about making a contribution to community wisdom and inner peace. Staff receive a manual which outlines The Bodhi Tree’s commitment to environmental sustainability practices and principles, and how it’s incorporating this thinking into every aspect of its activities, products and services.

“We believe that social and environmental contribution is essential for the development of human consciousness. True happiness is derived from serving others and this philosophy lies at the foundation of The Bodhi Tree.” – Karen Kotze, Owner.