{"id":157411,"date":"2016-09-09T20:37:01","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T10:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=157411"},"modified":"2020-10-05T16:07:16","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T06:07:16","slug":"local-business-going-for-export-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/09\/09\/local-business-going-for-export-glory\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Business Going For Export Glory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Access Innovations’ Michael Magnussen with a container-load of units heading to the United States<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Michael and Margie Magnussen at the Export Awards announcement in Brisbane this week (Photo: Access Innovations)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 9, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kingaroy-based engineering company Access Innovations has been named as a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards.<\/p>\n

Access Innovations, founded by local businessman Michael Magnussen, manufactures and exports a \u00a0unique safety access system for heavy mining machinery.<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s designs \u2013 which have global patents and licences \u2013 have gone through three generations since they were launched during the 1990s.<\/p>\n

His first generation design won a Queensland Premier\u2019s Safety Award in 2002, which makes Michael feel he’s now come full circle.<\/p>\n

The finalists in the 2016 awards were announced on Thursday night in Brisbane.<\/p>\n

Access Innovations is one of four finalists in the\u00a0Minerals and Energy sector.<\/p>\n

Export Council of Australia CEO Lisa McAuley said Queensland never failed to impress with a wide range of industry sectors “consistently punching above their weight”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe competition is extremely tough and we are thrilled to see a number of new names recognised for their tremendous efforts. It\u2019s fantastic to also see the diversity of the companies that entered the awards this year.”<\/p>\n

Michael said Access Innovations’ exports had grown 700 per cent in value, expanding recently from the United States and Canada to south-east Asia.<\/p>\n

“If we pull off the (major award) it will be so big of a endorsement for our region which may generate traction for other industry to locate here,” Michael said.<\/p>\n

“Many people ask why are we not based in Brisbane or Mackay as close to coast \u00a0and mining markets.<\/p>\n

“Sure it costs us more initially in freight, but we offset with smarter caring county labour, lower business premises outlays, and a quiet, clean community with clean air and plenty of wineries providing a fluid basis of thoughts for inventing new products!”<\/p>\n

The awards ceremony will be held on October 20 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.<\/p>\n

[Originally published as “Kingaroy Business Finalist In Export Awards”]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The four finalists in each category are:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Agribusiness<\/strong><\/p>\n