Tasmanian Companies Honoured At Australian Export Awards

AUSTRADE MEDIA RELEASE 20 November 2009

Embargoed until 10pm, 20 November

TASMANIAN COMPANIES HONOURED AT AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS

Two Tasmanian companies were honoured for outstanding export achievement at the Australian Export
Awards tonight, hosted by the Minister for Trade, the Hon Simon Crean MP.

Both companies have carved out niche export markets for their specialist services. Autech Software &
Design won the Regional Exporter Award sponsored by TradeStart. Pivot Maritime International
won the Small to Medium Services Award, sponsored by the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

Based in Launceston, Autech is a software development company providing electronic colour software
applications for the paint, building and home furnishing industries. Autech's products help de-mystify the
problems of choosing colour and assist world leading brands to better promote and sell their offerings.

The software is used by over 50 international customers in 25 different countries. Strong export growth
in 2008-09 has seen the company experience its most profitable year to date, almost doubling the number
of countries its software is available in an amazing feat for a small business.

Since entering the industry in 1996, Pivot Maritime has carved a niche in maritime simulation, training
and consultancy with its flexible and cost effective simulation systems. The company produces a wide
range of maritime simulators and also uses them in maritime training and consultancy services. The
synergy is powerful, enabling the company to lead and innovate in its maritime niche.

Pivot Maritime has experienced very strong recent growth, which is directly attributable to its leading
edge technology. Staff numbers have doubled over the past year in order to provide expertise in software
programming, export marketing and management.

Congratulating the 12 National Winners, Minister Crean said that collectively, these companies have
generated more than $1.5 billion in export earnings and employed more than 2,400 people.

The Australian Export Awards are co-presented by Austrade and the Australian Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. Now in its 47th year of recognising export excellence, the Awards are one of the longest
running and most prestigious business awards.

The Awards are run in collaboration with the States and Territories, who each conduct their own Export
Awards program. State and Territory winners progress to the Australian Export Awards as finalists.

NOTE TO TV NEWS ROOMS: Full live multi-camera feed available from Tieline 5 from the
Press Gallery at Parliament House, Canberra.

For more information, visit www.exportawards.gov.au

Media contacts:
Autech Software & Design Darren Alexander 0419 382 246 or 03 6334 2464
Pivot Maritime International Jeff Hawkins 0419 368 082 or 03 6330 2929
Australian Export Awards Emma Bailey 0414 969 348 or 02 9390 2077








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