Computronics keen to grow its R&D

FARMING electronics developer and electronic display sign manufacturer Computronics is a significant investor in research and development in Western Australia and, with a recent acquisition, is keen to continue developing cutting-edge products to the farming sector.

Earlier this month Computronics announced the acquisition of Western Australian firm Business of Applied Resolution Technologies.

Business of ART specialises in laser alignment and positioning systems and will provide in-house expertise to Computronics.

Computronics chief executive officer Ole Hansen said the company spent about $1 million on R&D a year.

“That is some 8 per cent of our turnover on product development,” he said.

 Mr Hansen said WA was a difficult place to do R&D.

“I think that the available resources in WA are limited,” he said. “But if you are talking about the amount of farmers and the sunny beaches, then it’s quite different.”

And, following a meeting with a University of Western Australia academic, Mr Hansen said there may be local collaborative efforts in the future.

Computronics makes more than $17 million a year from sales across the globe and employs 13 full-time R&D staff.