15 September 1995

ADELAIDE FAMILY FIRM SET FOR BIG EXPORT PERFORMANCE

Senator McMullan today presented Robert Way, the Managing Director of Robway Safety Systems, with a cheque for $147,000 at the company's Thebarton headquarters.

The cheque is the first payment of a $920,000 loan which will assist the company with sales of its crane safety equipment to customers in Asia and the Middle East.

Robway Safety Systems manufactures load and overload monitoring equipment for cranes and other lifting equipment such as fork lift trucks and truck loaders.

The equipment carefully monitors loads to ensure the correct stresses are applied, minimising the possibility of cranes collapsing under the weight of the load. The equipment addresses major safety concerns on construction sites.

Senator McMullan said Robway Safety Systems is a good example of what is being achieved by many small Australian firms with innovative products and services.

"The Government is keen to help small and medium businesses establish new markets, or expand their existing export markets," Senator McMullan said.

"And one of the ways of doing this is providing low-cost funding for overseas marketing expenses through Austrade loans."

Robway Safety Systems was established by Robert Way's father in 1953 as an overhead crane service company, and soon became a leading South Australian crane hire company. The move to crane load monitoring equipment came in 1979, and steady growth since has seen the company develop an export focus with primary market targets in the booming Asian and Middle east construction sectors.

The company began exporting in 1990/91. In 1994, Robway established a trading company in Malaysia and made its first inroads into the Middle East market. While domestic sales remained relatively stable, export sales in 1993/94 were more than 65 per cent of total sales.

The company undertook comprehensive market research with the help of Austrade's overseas offices, and the market opportunities identified reinforced their export endeavours. Robway has 25 employees, with an five extra staff recently employed to meet export needs.

The bulk of the loan funding to Robway will support marketing-related activities such as travel, promotion, advertising, salaries and office expenses, and domestic costs directly related to export.

Senator McMullan said Robway's commitment to exports to Asia is unquestioned.

"Robway's Regional Manger in Hong Kong, Kevin Crosland, will be attending the Australia China Forum which I am opening in Shanghai next week," Senator McMullan said.

"Kevin will also be travelling with me on a business mission to Dalian in China's north-east following the seminar.

"It is encouraging to see a company such as Robway aggressively pursuing business in these important export markets."

Exporters can make enquiries about Austradeís services by calling the Export Hotline -

13 28 78 (nationally).

Further Information:

Senator McMullanís office: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420

Austrade Adelaide: Peter Forby, (08) 202 7830

Austrade Sydney: Lidija Terzic, (02) 390 2356