A Queensland manufacturer of maritime ventilation systems, and a Victorian business devoted to time-lapse photography, were crowned as the nation’s leading small business exporters at last night’s Austrade Australian Export Awards.
Marine Air Flow International and photoSentinel jointly won the Small Business category at the Parliament House ceremony, where entrepreneurs and lawmakers gathered to celebrate Australian businesses gaining traction overseas.
For nearly 20 years, Marine Air Flow International has tackled an age-old problem: the corrosive power of damp and salty air, which can damage ship engine rooms.
It develops and manufactures fans, moisture-reducing intake grilles, and air dampers, with customers in the commercial and defence markets.
Exports now count for nearly half of its total business, helping it diversify its income and reduce reliance on large domestic contracts.
This year, the business signed a deal to produce air-flow systems for two new ferries, each built in Singapore and destined for the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement, Marine Air Flow International director Bradley Martin called the export deal a “historic achievement” for the enterprise.
It is now eyeing new export markets in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Founded in 2004, photoSentinel develops software and hardware enabling time-lapse photography.
Its weather-resistant camera housings and power supplies, combined with post-production tools, have been used by production crews and content creators in 55 countries.
While visually pleasing, those long-term filming projects also have real-world applications, with construction firms and environmental tracking organisations turning to photoSentinel products.
When the legendary Queen Elizabeth II cruise liner was refurbished into a floating hotel in 2017, it was photoSentinel technology that captured the process.
International acclaim helped photoSentinel win the same Austrade award category in 2018, but recent progress in the United Arab Emirates and USA contributed to its most recent honours.
The business recently proved itself to be a key UAE government stakeholder by installing a time-lapse photography setup in a matter of days.
The successful implementation helped photoSentinel sign a major contract, with the business now responsible for more than 390 cameras across the project.
The business now counts in excess of 6,000 cameras deployed in around 60 nations.
Speaking to SmartCompany, CEO Matthew Perrier called the award win an exciting development for the growing business.
photoSentinel is “very proud” of its growing team, which now includes three staff in the United States and two in Dubai, Perrier said.
Beyond the Small Business category, South Australia’s Rising Sun Pictures secured the overall Australian Exporter of the Year award.
A visual effects company, Rising Sun Pictures recently contributed its services for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Rising Sun Pictures also secured this year’s Creative Industries award, and has secured numerous Austrade honours in the past.
More than half of all finalists in the awards ceremony counted as small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million.
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Senior Business Journalist
Focused on the small business sector, David’s work covers the political, regulatory, and economic issues facing Australian entrepreneurs. Prior to joining SmartCompany, he was a reporter for Business Insider Australia. You can follow him on LinkedIn.
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