Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, together with Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo, has named Machinery Automation and Robotics (MAR) the 2008 Telstra Australian Business of the Year.

Established 21 years ago, the company provides manufacturing products that incorporate advanced robotics for production-critical industries.

The award aims to identify and profile Australia’s top achievers in small and medium businesses.

MAR competed against seven other state winners for the award, after winning NSW Business of the Year, The Panasonic Medium Business Award and the AMP Innovation Awards last month.

This year alone, the company won a $5 million US contract despite a drop of about 23 per cent in robotics orders in the US amid the credit crunch.

MAR CEO Clyde Campbell said the award was not only a great win for the business, but would also help “thrust the innovation and development of Australia’s automation and robotics industry into the spotlight”.

“Whilst we continue to tap into new global markets, we will be focusing on innovation to help local manufacturers compete in the world’s stage through delivery of smart automation of the manufacturing process,” Mr Campbell said.

Speaking at the event, Mr Rudd announced that Telstra and Austrade had set up the Export Assistance Program to help winners from the Telstra Business Awards further develop their export potential.

Mr Trujillo said small and medium businesses were the “engine room” of the Australian economy.

“The new export program being run in conjunction with Austrade will help identify those companies and entrepreneurs with real potential to help Australia boost its exports and ultimately improve its terms of trade,” he said.

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