Stainless Design snaps up top awards

BIG WINNER: Stainless Design chief exclusive John Cook, centre, was named leader of the year at last night's Westpac Business Excellence Awards, while his company took out top prizes.

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A manufacturer of equipment for food, aviation, dairy and pharmaceutical industries took top honours at last night's Waikato Business awards.

Hamilton business Stainless Design won the region's top accolade at the Westpac Business Excellence Awards at Mystery Creek.

Stainless Design, which employs about 70 staff on the Pukete Industrial Estate, won the award after scooping two of 12 other awards it won the Stafford Engineering Manufacturing Excellence Award, and chief executive John Cook came away with the Waikato Management School Leader of the Year Award.

The panel of 12 judges, headed by Howard Davey, professor of Professional Accounting at Waikato Management School, said choosing the winner was difficult, but Stainless Design was hard to fault. "Excellence oozed through all facets of this business. It has achieved change in an industry in which the perception is that achieving this level of change would be difficult," the judges said.

The company's passion for its product and staff had led to the Manufacturing Excellence win and possessed inspirational leadership in the form of Mr Cook.

Waikato Yamaha New Zealand, in Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton, won the Waikato Times Retail Excellence Award in recognition of it developing what the judges called an "excellent system-based operation" in a relatively short time.

Hamilton website developer Enlighten Designs Ltd, in Victoria St, won the Hamilton City Council Innovation Award for its growth strategy.

Huka Falls Jet's robust financial reporting systems and excellent health and safety record won it the Wintec Hospitality, Entertainment and Tourism Award and the ACC Workplace Safety Award. "An outstanding entry presenting extremely high quality standards consistent throughout its whole business from planning, through to staff, through to customer service," said the judges.

Substantial growth, for Biozone International Ltd in Cambridge Rd, Hamilton, earned it the Deloitte Business Growth Award and it also won the NDA Global Operator Award. The company publishes science books for teachers and students in both Australasia and the UK.

The Wel Networks Best Emerging Business Award was received by Drs Kevin and Linda Gilbert who established mskimaging, an MRI musculoskeletal and sports radiology practice in Tainui St, Hamilton, a year ago. The business stood out because of its identification of a niche market and ability to return a profit in a short time, the judges said.

King St Advertising, headed by Waikato Times columnist Chris Williams, won the Tompkins Wake Excellence in Service Award for excellent governance, leadership, talented staff and a solid strategic business planning. "It demonstrated good links back into the community and it appeared to be a stimulating place in which to work," the judges said of the Hamilton company.

John Deere dealer Walsh Motors, on SH18, Cambridge, picked up the Gallagher Agriculture and Primary Production Award after achieving strong sales and growth.

Exceptional organisational empathy won Hospice Waikato, which provides palliative care across the region, the Newstalk ZB Not-for-Profit and Public Sector Organisation Award. Judges said the hospice stood out in the way it met the needs of clients and staff. "It stands out in its operations and financial planning and its benchmarking against other similar organisations while living its cultural philosophy," judges said.

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