Award winners seal new deals in region

Business Asia, Oct 25, 1999

Two standout companies in the history of the Business As/a News Magazine Awards -- Compumedics and Laservision Macro Media -- continue to be dominant business forces in the region.

Compumedics, the Victorian company which makes computer-based medical monitoring equipment, has just signed a deal with Malaysian company Cybron Technology.

Cybron is involved in the marketing, distribution and servicing of hi-tech electronic equipment to specialist sectors within Asia.

Under the agreement, Cybron has been appointed as Compumedics' exclusive distributor of telemedicine products in Malaysia.

David Burton, managing director of Compumedics, said the alliance was formed after two years of negotiations. Cybron's close links with the Multimedia Super Corridor was a factor in its selection.

In Singapore, Laservision has sealed a A$4.5 million deal with Sentosa Island to upgrade entrainment attractions at the Singapore tourism landmark, which has been using Laservision technology for the past four years.

Laservision marketing manager John Eustace said Sentosa would get the latest technology "roll-off" from a research and development program into which Laservision has pumped more than $2.7 million.

At last year's Business Asia awards, Compumedics was named Best Australian Small/ Medium Business Activity in Asia.

The Melbourne company is also the 1998 DHL Australian Exporter of the Year, a campaign directed by The Charlton Group, publisher of Business Asia.

Laservision won back-to-back Business Asia awards in 1998 and 1999 in the category for Best Use of Australian Technology in Asia.

Burton said recognition of Compumedics through the Business Asia awards was important for a company "that started from zero base and has tackled the sharp edge of scientific and diagnostic equipment with virtually no funding".

He said winning an award made it clear to potential Asian customers that Compumedics was not just "jumping on the bandwagon".

"The very title of the magazine and its early commitment to the charter for Asia means that it's got a level of respect which for us is extraordinarily important," he said.

Eustace said Laservision was using the Business Asia award to enhance its credibility as it moves into new initiatives such as web-site sales.

"We believe that the Business Asia award this year has been strategic from our viewpoint to help underpin our development of a new technology," Eustace said.

The award, he said, "endorses the capability of the technology" and gave new market launches credibility "from day one".

1999 winners

Winners of the 1999 Business Asia Magazine Awards were:

* Best Australian Small/Medium Business Activity in Asia: Compumedics

* Best Australian Large Business Activity in Asia: Qantas

* Best Australian Service Activity in Asia: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

* Best Use of Australian Technology in Asia: Laservision Macro Media Best Asian Business Activity in Australia: Singapore Airlines

* Best Contribution to Australia-Asia Business Ties: Singapore-Australian Business Council

* Outstanding Achievement in the Arts and Entertainment Industry in Asia: Kate Ceberano