MIW region to export the world's best

Some of the world’s best technologies are coming out of the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.

And for one of our leading Change Champions Vayeron CEO Ryan Norris, it is not a matter of if but when.

It is the MIW region’s economic drivers mining, agriculture, and tourism, which Ryan believes can build world class multinational companies to be grown and headquartered in the region.

The MIW region has the potential to really spawn global companies and be headquartered here.

“That is what we hope to do with Vayeron, maintain our headquarters here and operate internationally.

“ If we are going to service these mines that are 2 to 3 hours’ drive away, we cannot really rely on any kind of support from Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne, we have got to do it ourselves, that is why we are really innovative here in Mackay especially in the mining sector.”

He said other places around the world, who are mining centric or require big bulk handling conveyor systems, are seeing technology and skill sets coming out of the MIW region.

“That is why we are seeing a lot of wins from companies based locally that are starting to sell into the export markets.”

One of those wins is Vayeron who have recently signed Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI) as a global premium partner, along with global adoption of the Smart Idler system in Canada, USA and Latin American countries.

Ryan said part of their success in the United States was due to being a Mackay mining tech company and the reputation the region is growing internationally.

He said when they were over in the United States promoting their technologies Vayeron was seen and held in high regard as an Australian technology mining business.

“We have spent a lot of time working with PPI in the United States and down in Chile, we have won a couple of really nice projects in Chile that have involved PPI and the supplier of their conveyor components into those projects. The Chilean mining company specified our technology, so PPI, were like ‘who is Vayeron?  We have been specified to work with them’ - so that began the relationship.

Ryan said they spent time in PPI’s facility in Pella getting to know the management team and going through and integrating the Vayeron technology to PPI’s products. He said there is still a major project unfolding potentially, which if it gets awarded will be huge for Vayeron, happening in Texas.

“Our technology represents where the industry is heading, PPI represents the big company that has the huge brand and the industry but not quite yet at the forefront of digital technology and we work well together, we provide that digital technology edge that is in line with the way the industry is going.”

Ryan said a successful model of export we could adapt for our region is like one he found while in the United States.

“For example, where we struck our premium partnership deal with PPI, they are headquartered in Iowa, but a little town named Pella. And Pella is probably the size of Moranbah in population.”

Ryan said Pella is in the middle of nowhere and not many people have head of it, but it is the headquarters for many multi-billion-dollar corporations, such as Vermeer.  

“You will see Vermeer equipment around Mackay, that is all manufactured in Pella. They have PPI which is an international brand through North and South America and another company that makes doors and windows called Pella Corp, which employs most of the town. 

“So why cannot Mackay be this epicenter of international manufacturing, employing locally, but exporting globally? Ryan said.

And what does the future look like for Vayeron in the next five years?

“We are going to be in house and on shore manufacturing Vayeron’s products.  They will be made here in Mackay. We will be sending products to Pella in Iowa with Made in Mackay stickers and to Santiago in Chile with Made in Mackay stickers.

He said in the next short while, Vayeron will hope to manufacture one of their products here locally and as they grow move into their own fully fledged manufacturing facility along with continued investment in their technology and offices across the world.

“At the end of the day nothing ventured nothing gained,” Ryan said.