Big win for Brendale manufacturing business at gala awards ceremony

A Brendale manufacturing business that makes manholes, access hatches, water metres and fire hydrants before exporting them across the world have been recognised at the 2022 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards.

EJ Australia Pty Ltd was announced the winner in the North Harbour Award for Advanced Manufacturing Excellence at the gala awards ceremony on Friday night.

The event was held at the Eatons Hill Hotel, with roughly 480 people from across the Moreton Bay Region in attendance.

EJ Regional Director and General Manager Simon Bottomley said the win was a great way to recognise all the hard work of his employees.

“It’s great to win this award for our hardworking guys back in the factory who turn up every day,” Simon said.

“It’s good for them to know they are working for a team that is world class.

“Manufacturing is a tough job, it’s not easy, particularly with cast iron manhole covers, but our guys work extremely hard, so this is a nice win for them.

“Our manhole covers are used to guard access to the underground, so everything from sewer to stormwater, telecoms, gas. We are keeping a lid on it and keeping everyone safe.”

Simon said the company has been operating since 1883 when it was founded in a small timber cutting township of Northern Michigan.

The site in Brendale is the company’s regional headquarters for the Asia Pacific Region.

Simon said those from factories and offices oversees were always impressed with the work ethic of Australians.

“Australians are renowned as hard workers, and particularly when I go across to our global meetings, everybody is very proud of the Australian team because they know the Australian workers just get in and get the job done with minimum fuss,” Simon said.

“I think that kind of attitude is great for manufacturing, and its great in particular here for the Brendale region.

“We can get in and make good and effective products and export it.

“We are doing a lot of that at the moment to places like New Zealand, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.”

Celebrating the region’s top businesses

There were 68 finalists in this year’s awards and the winners were decided by a panel of 44 judges from a mix of public and private sector organisations from across South East Queensland.

The 2022 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards were presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council and delivered by Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT).

See photos from the night and read about the other winners here.

Entries for the 2023 Moreton Bay Business and Innovation Awards are now open. Click here to find out more.