Australia’s leading supplier of fresh produce grading machinery and the world’s leading manufacturer of cherry sorting and packing machinery, GP Graders, was recognised with the Medium Manufacturer of the Year award at the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
Established in 2001, the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame is one of the most prestigious business awards in Victoria that recognises excellence in manufacturing.
“It was a great honour just to be nominated for this award,” GP Graders Managing Director Stuart Payne said.
“To actually win is testament to the achievements of all GP Graders staff. We were up against some very tough competition.”
GP Graders has made significant contribution to the Victorian manufacturing sector, adding skilled jobs to the local economy, whilst having a positive impact on the State’s reputation in the fields of innovation, research and development. GP Graders has also achieved significant international impact, with sales in excess of 80% in export markets, complementing strong national sales and revenue figures.
“The impact of mentoring and developing employees to adopt a world view of GP Graders’ position in the industry, the competition we face, and the innovation required to be world leaders on a global stage really positions the business as a truly successful manufacturing story,” Payne said.
GP Graders is also well established in the shellfish industry with their technology revolutionising packing operations. Its sorting and grading machinery increases the competitiveness and profitability of their customers and is used in 20 countries in the world.
The company opened a factory in the USA in 2013 and is currently in the process of opening a manufacturing facility in Chile.
This is not the first time the company has been recognised for its achievements. In 2012, 2013 and 2014 GP Graders was recognised at the Governor of Victoria Export Awards as the winner of the Manufacturing category and in 2013 won the overall Victorian Exporter of the Year. In 2014 the company won the Manufacturing Award at the 52nd Australian Exporter of the Year ceremony and went on to take out the overall Prime Minister’s Award as Australian Exporter of the Year.
