Home-grown exporters: for the third year running Overseas Trading is pleased to announce the winners of the annual Trailblazer Awards 2006. This year we've selected 17 of Australia's top homegrown exporters--the companies who are leading the country's increasingly successful export drive.

• Position: Market share

Agribusiness

MURRAY GOULBURN GO-OPERATIVE CO. LIMITED

From small beginnings as a co-operative in 1950, Murray Goulburn has developed into the leader in the Australian dairy and a major player in the global dairy trade.

The same determination, drive and commitment of its pioneering founders is still present throughout the organisation today. Strong leadership, a passion for innovation and a commitment to teamwork continues to drive the co-operative towards new and exciting heights.

With eight plants located throughout Victoria, Murray Goulburn processes more than 35 percent of the nation's milk supply into quality products which are sold on both domestic and export markets.

Quality and food safety are the foundation of Murray Goulburn's reputation as a preferred supplier of food products. All Murray Goulburn's processing plants are accredited to ISO 9001:2000 and are certified to the NSF HACCP --9000 standard for HACCP and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices). Compliance with finished products specifications is independently verified using Dairy Technical Services, the Australian dairy industry reference laboratory located in Melbourne.

Murray Goulburn works closely with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), Dairy Food Safety Victoria and other relevant regulatory bodies to ensure their compliance to changing requirements.

Research and Development is a key factor in Murray Goulburn's on going success. From process improvement to product innovation, its goals of maintaining leadership as a low cost producer and meeting the evolving needs of their customers are achieved. By working closely with its customers, in its own operations and the customers', the product commercialisation is hastened and the success rate heightened.

While research and redevelopment capability within its own operations is substantial, the global network of contacts in research facilities, complements the Co operative's own resources and ensures that it remains at the forefront of dairy technology and the possibilities for future product development.

Building Products & Construction

BLUESCOPE STEEL

BlueScope Steel is the leading steel company in Australia and New Zealand, supplying a large percentage of all flat steel products sold in these markets. The company's products play a big part in people's everyday lives, being vital components in suburban houses, landmark buildings and structures, popular makes of cars, and containers for food and beverages.

They specialise in the production of flat steel products, including slab, hot rolled coil, cold rolled coil, plate, tin plate and value-added metallic coated and painted steel products. Their steelworks at Port Kembla in New South Wales is the largest steel production facility in Australia and one of the world's lowest-cost producers of steel products.

Within Australia, the BlueScope Lysaght business rollforms and supplies a range of steel building products, including roof and wall cladding, steel house framing, rainwater products such as guttering and downpipes, fencing, structural products such as purlins and flooring systems, meshes and walkways, and home improvement products. LYSAGHT[R] products are sold through distributors and suppliers Australia-wide.

BlueScope Steel also operates the only integrated flat products steelworks in New Zealand and has a 50 percent share in the North Star BlueScope Steel mini mill in Ohio, in the United States. Also in the US, BlueScope Steel acquired Butler Manufacturing in April 2004. Butler is the world's leading manufacturer and provider of pre-engineered steel building systems and has number one market positions in North America and China. Steel rolling, coating and painting plants are located in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. These facilities are complemented by a network of roll-forming facilities across the Asia Pacific region that are unmatched by any steel company. A new flat steel metallic coating and painting facility is under construction in China, which is due to be completed by mid 2006.

They supply customers in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the US, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and elsewhere with purpose-designed products backed by comprehensive after-sales service, technical support, and transport and logistics capability. Through their ecommerce network, BlueScope Steel provides customers with the ability to directly place and monitor orders.

BlueScope Steel's key strengths include low-cost operations, strong brands, leading domestic market positions, and a growing presence in the markets of Asia. The brands of BlueScope Steel are market leaders in Australia and New Zealand and have a strong presence in Asia.

In Asian markets, BlueScope Steel is continuing to develop branded products tailored to meet specific regional needs, such as Clean COLORBOND[R] steel which is resistant to tropical discolouration. Other successful brands include PrimaDesa[TM] steel in Malaysia, and TRUZINC[TM] galvanised steel in Thailand.

BlueScope Steel has led the way in developing tailored solutions to customers' product requirements. Focused on being responsive to customers' needs, BlueScope Steel is widely recognised for fostering the development of innovative steel solutions through its own research and through strategic alliances with world-leading technical partners.

Retailing

HARVEY NORMAN

The Harvey Norman name is synonymous with the great Australian success story. Established in Auburn by Gerry Harvey, the first store was opened in 1982.

Offering a unique way of trading, Harvey Norman opened the doors for independent business operators, allowing them to act as franchisees for home and office products.

As popularity for the store soared, Harvey Norman expanded to total 13 stores across New South Wales, and in 1987 the company floated.

Today the Harvey Norman name comprises over 520 franchises in which more than 10,000 Australians are employed.

Responding to intense global demands, Harvey Norman then ventured into offshore markets, making Harvey Norman a trusted retail name in New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia.

While on the east coast of Australia, the market's demands were met with the launch of Domayne--a string of lifestyle infused super stores Carrying a unique range of innovative technology and designer-influenced fine furniture.

In 2001, Harvey Norman then acquired a predominant controlling interest in Australia's biggest sporting retailer, Rebel Sport, and implemented the shared values of the 'Harvey Norman way'.

This saw Rebel Sport further expand to provide its customers with a greater range of products at convenient locations.

Combined, Harvey Norman has proven to be an Australian industry leader in the fields of electrical goods, furniture, carpeting, flooring, bedding, manchester, small appliances, computers, communications, lighting, home improvements and bathroom hardware as well as sporting retail.

Harvey Norman has since improved national buying trends by offering a diverse range of cutting-edge products at market-leading prices, resulting in a strengthening of the Australian economy.

Support is also provided to a countless list of Australian manufacturers, by stocking a large amount of Australian owned products.

This has created a positive return cycle for all Australians involved, making Harvey Norman a true Australian success story.

WESTFIELD

The Westfield Group is the...