Locals join the world cup club

Two Western Australian biomedical companies – West Perth-based collagen developer, CollTech Australia Ltd, and Leederville-based spinal therapeutics developer Nubax Ltd – are joining a national delegation of companies visiting Europe for the Rugby World Cup 2007, as part of Austrade’s Business Club Australia program.

About 17 Australian companies will visit the UK and France as part of the trip.

CollTech will join the mission as part of a six-week sales drive through Europe and the US.

CollTech director Glenn Smith said the Rugby World Cup trip would coincide with CollTech’s scouting mission to find distributors and buyers for its products.

“Being in front of some of the largest companies in the European and US markets, particularly cosmetic companies, will help to increase and broaden our investor base,” he said.

Mr Smith said the presence of some of Australia’s largest biomedical companies at the world cup, which is held every four years, would attract major international buyers and distributors.

He said CollTech would also attend a buyers’ conference in Los Angeles for cosmetic suppliers.

The company launched its two cosmetic collagen products earlier this year, and has distribution channels throughout Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Mr Smith said CollTech had achieved market penetration in Asia relatively quickly.

“The more sophisticated and established markets in the US and Europe will take longer,” he said.

Spinal technology developer Nubax will also participate in the trade mission and is planning to showcase its spinal traction unit at a medical trade expo in Wales.

The company recently completed clinical trials of its device, which is used to relieve back pain, and is aiming to gain distribution for the product through the UK’s National Health Service.

Nubax director Ralph Montoni said the company hoped to secure interest from the government body as an entry point to the UK medical device market.

“If the NHS supports the product, then it’s more attractive to private operators,” Mr Montoni said.

He said Nubax would also attend a major medical expo in Germany during the trip.

The trade mission will be the first attempt by the company to gain an international profile for its traction product, having undertaken clinical trials of the device over the past three years.

Nubax is also currently involved in research and development for two other spinal products.

About 150 businesses in Western Australia are currently members of Business Club Australia.

The group has visited a range of sporting events in recent years, including the Sydney Olympic Games, Rugby World Cup 2003, last year’s Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the 2006 Spring Racing Carnival, and the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships.

A spokesman for Austrade said the program had delivered about $1.7 billion in business deals to date, and had 8,500 members internationally.