The Endeavour Awards 2024 brought together industry leaders to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Australian manufacturing.
Held in Melbourne, and sponsored by BDO, the event showcased the recent successes within the sector, highlighting the personalities and enterprises that have been driving innovation and progress in the industry.
Throughout the night, numerous awards were presented to deserving individuals and organisations, providing an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the figures and companies that make Australian manufacturing exceptional.
The success of the evening would not have been possible without the support of the event’s sponsors: Weld Australia, Bestech Australia, SEW-EURODRIVE, and BlueRock. Their sponsorship provided the solid foundation for what is considered Australia’s premier manufacturing awards program.
The evening reached its pinnacle with the announcement of the highly coveted Manufacturer of the Year award, which was won by MEQ, a data solutions developer. MEQ not only claimed the Manufacturer of the Year award but also took home the Technology Application award for its MEQ Live solution, which provides real-time data for feedlots and producers.
“We were a start-up that was the genesis of a couple of PhD programs,” said Jordan Yeomans, chief technical officer, MEQ.
“And since then, we’ve built our team from one person to 35 people.
“We’ve got two of my colleagues here, Thomas and Ray, so very proud to have them here with us today as well.”
MEQ LIVE is a agriculture-focussed technology that allows breeders, farmers, feedlot operators and sale yards to measure the meat quality and yield (consumable meat) of a live animal while reducing carbon emissions within the industry.
The company’s continued efforts to revolutionise the meat industry through its ability to provide relevant data solutions was what ultimately secured Manufacturer of the Year for the company.
The Leader of the Year award was presented to Geoff Crittenden, the CEO of Weld Australia, in recognition of his pioneering work and dedication to advancing the welding industry in Australia.
Weld Australia’s activities often focus on improving industry standards, enhancing the skill levels of workers, and ensuring that welding practices contribute to the overall safety and effectiveness of various sectors.
The organisation also works to align Australian welding practices with international standards and technological advancements.
Crittenden began his career as an engineer in the British Army, where he served for more than 15 years.
He later held senior leadership roles at Transfield Worley, Cynergy Group, and the Risk Management Institute, before becoming the CEO of Weld in 2014.
Throughout his career, Crittenden has led multidisciplinary teams in complex, high-tech environments and has successfully developed and executed long-term business strategies that have driven significant growth.
“When I was 19, I joined the Royal Military Academy,” said Crittenden.
“Over the last 50 years, I’ve learned one crucial lesson: it’s not about you; it’s about the people who work with you.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my team at Weld Australia. They are fantastic, and without them, leadership means nothing.”
Meanwhile, AMIGA Engineering was named the Most Innovative Manufacturing Company of 2024. This award recognised its commitment to driving change and advancing technology within the sector.
AMIGA Engineering has built a reputation as a dynamic and innovative Advanced Manufacturing company, specialising in several areas including 3D scanning, industrial maintenance services, and emergency engineering work.
“It’s been amazing to be recognised for innovation over the past few years,” said Michael Bourchier, managing director of the company.
“This achievement is truly a result of the incredible efforts of our team, who consistently bring creativity and innovative thinking to our business.
“They continue to come up with remarkable ideas that drive us forward.”
AMIGA has made investments in additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, which has enabled it to create complex geometries and intricate designs with great precision.
As the night focused on the future of Australian manufacturing, the Outstanding Start-Up award went to Lindo Tube, a manufacturer of germicidal lighting solutions.
The company’s success exemplified the role of start-ups in shaping the future direction of the industry.
Lindo Tube is a world-first lighting solution designed to reduce incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
“If my wife was here, not looking after my wonderful children, I could thank her enough,” said Robert Gangi, founder, and director of Lindo Tube.
“She’s been an amazing, great support. So, thank you everybody. I’m really excited.”
One of the evening’s most high-profile achievements came when CST Composites won the prestigious Project of the Year award.
The company’s Towpreg masts were used on nearly half of the boats competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, an extraordinary achievement that placed Australian manufacturing in the global spotlight.
CST Composites focuses on the design and manufacture of cost effective, yet high quality, filament wound tubing to service marine, industrial and high-tech markets.
The strength of CST lies with its unique filament winding technology, which has been developed and evolving since day one.
Leading up to the awards, nominees were evaluated by a distinguished panel of industry experts, production specialists, and organisations like CSIRO.
The Endeavour Awards continue to be a celebration of innovation, growth, and perseverance, highlighting outstanding achievements of those within the Australian
manufacturing sector.