Door opens in closed industry

HEAT shrink and insulation technology specialist Radiform is building its business with a skilled migrant at the helm of technical production and development.

Unable to source the required specialist skills in Australia, the Welshpool-based company was forced to look overseas.

The successful applicant was Henk Ossendrijver, who had been involved in the plastics industry in Europe since 1979 and was known to Radiform through industry circles.

Originally from Holland, Mr Ossendrijver arrived in Australia in May this year after being appointed Radiform’s production and technical manager.

Mr Ossendrijver has joined the company on an employee sponsored skilled migrant visa – the type of visa the Federal Government envisages skilled migrants will be eligible for – arranged using the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA migration specialist, Dan Engles.

Radiform produces a range of heat shrink insulation cable accessories for electronic, electrical and power distribution applications for use in the aerospace, automotive, construction, marine, shipbuilding, power distribution, electrical and telecommunications industries.

Radiform managing director Steven Ball said Radiform was the only Australian heat shrink technology producer in Australia.

“In a short space of time we developed a world-class product,” he said.

Mr Ball said about 40 per cent of the company’s revenue came from exports to countries including Singapore, China, South Africa, Greece, Brazil and the US.

He said the company was actively raising funds to fuel expansion plans after recently winning a six-figure contract with a major US firm.

“We have a business plan in place and are undergoing capital raising, which we hope to complete in four months,” Mr Ball said.

“Initially it will be to bed down the US contract and secondly it will be to set up a distribution network in the US.

“Our long-term goal is to take the company, pending capital raising and success, in three years to $50 million turnover.”

The heat shrink industry was a closed industry dominated by multinationals such as Tyco, 3M, Sumitomo and DSG-Canusa, he said.

“We have managed to find a product that can be sold along side theirs with a distinct advantage including cost.”