16 October 2001 Media Release
Swing Thru lifts performance

Regional Development Minister Jim Anderton welcomed the success of Dunedin container crane company Swing Thru International, which has resulted in $100,000 Business Growth Fund grant from Industry New Zealand.

“Swing Thru is an innovative successful company and Industry New Zealand support will be more than returned to the community through company growth.

“The $100,000 will be used for a range of developments such as building stronger relationships with overseas companies, market exploration, and design work on integration of Swing Thru cranes with overseas built trailers.

“One major competitive advantage we have is that New Zealanders and our companies are highly innovative. Swing Thru has developed a world first with a crane that can work on either side of a train or truck carriage and which can lift a container in one movement.

"Many New Zealand businesses are innovative with excellent ideas, but many lack capacity and capital to expand and become larger. Grants like this which are matched dollar for dollar by the company, will make significant returns to our economy,” said Jim Anderton.

The Business Growth Service was set up by the Labour/Alliance Coalition Government as part of Industry New Zealand and helps businesses take a leap to the next stage in their development. The Service offers advice and also can provide up to $100,000 for specified measures that will make a significant difference.

The Business Growth Service is one of the range of measures promised in the Alliance pre election policy "Partnership 2000" which outlined practical ways to create jobs and make the New Zealand economy perform better.

Industry New Zealand can be contacted on the website www.industrynz.govt.nz.
www.bizinfo.co.nz 08004BIZINFO
Venture capital information www.vcapital.co.nz 0800VCAPITAL

http://www.swingthru.co.nz/

Industry NZ Press Release Attached

ENDS

16 October 2001

DUNEDIN COMPANY’S EXPORT PLANS BACKED BY INDUSTRY NEW ZEALAND

A Dunedin manufacturer of world-leading container cranes, Swing Thru International, has been given Industry New Zealand funding to further develop the cranes with an eye to expanding exports.

Swing Thru is establishing a second manufacturing partnership to cope with increased international sales.

The $100,000 funding, through Industry New Zealand’s Business Growth Fund, will be used for:

- Building relationships with overseas manufacturers,
- Market exploration,
- Project management,
- Design work on integration of Swing Thru’s cranes with overseas-built trailers,
- Development of operating manuals,
- Engineering evaluation,
- Administration and ISO systems development, and
- Further intellectual property development.

The funding for these projects will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Swing Thru.
“The Business Growth Fund targets well-established, medium-sized companies with plans to grow in a controlled and sustainable way,” Industry New Zealand chief executive Neil Mackay said. “Swing Thru, which was established in 1994, has a set of exciting, but challenging growth plans.

“Industry New Zealand can help Swing Thru realise these growth plans by helping it to buy in critical expertise. The company has successfully completed its R & D stage and is now looking to expand into existing and new markets.”

Swing Thru International Managing Director, Ross Simpson, said that the application process for the Industry New Zealand funding was comparatively easy.

Swing Thru International used its chartered accountants who worked with Industry New Zealand. This shortened the time required to gain approval and with the substantial assistance from Industry New Zealand’s offices, the process was a very worthwhile investment in time and consultancy fees, he said.

Mr Simpson also said he hoped the Government understood the importance of funds, such as the Business Growth Fund, to organisations in the early development stages, such as Swing Thru, and congratulated the Government on its foresight.

Swing Thru products are sold in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. They are used by road transport and rail companies, the military, household removal businesses and emergency services.

Editor’s notes

Swing Thru’s container loading system is believed be the first in the world capable of operating on both sides of a vehicle with an ability to lift a container in one movement across the vehicle.

Three models are available with lifting capacities ranging from 4.4 to 10 tonnes and two demountable trailer units capable of handling two 20-foot containers or one 40- foot container up to 35 tonnes
Swing Thru was founded by Ross Simpson in 1994.

Industry New Zealand was established by the Government in September 2000 as New Zealand’s economic development agency.

It creates a bridge between government and the private sector and focuses all government resources, central and local, to help businesses, industries and regions grow.

The approach emphasises: fostering an “enterprise culture” in New Zealand, partnerships and getting the job done.

Among the services Industry New Zealand provides are: Advice, access to information, funding assistance and advice, co-ordination of business support, removal of bottlenecks and barriers and establishment of partnerships.

ends/…

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