WA technology developer Computronics Corporation is eyeing a stock market float later in the
year after strong growth in its rural and information display technology.
Computronics Corporation executive director David Sharp said the company has been gearing up for a float, having developed products suitable for the global market during recent years.
“Over the past four years we’ve spent $1 million a year developing products that have relevance to the world market…the North American market, particularly Canada and the American midwest, are strong markets for us,” he
said.
The company’s two key areas are the development of technology for use on farms, such as global positioning systems, and information display uses such as scoreboards at sporting venues.
“We had an $11 million turnover last year and are heading for a $17 million turnover this year,” Mr Sharp said.
He said American companies exporting products to Australia were looking at importing some of Computronics Corporation’s products to the US market.
The company is already active in European markets with an office in Denmark and, after a recent win in the 2002 Austrade Euro High Tech Tour Competition, is poised to make further inroads.
In a field of 153 entries Computronics Corporation is the only WA winner who will join another nine technology companies in an intensive week of European business development in mid-November.
Mr Sharp said the trip would allow the company to further extend and develop its European operations.
“We will be meeting with governments and high level people in business in Italy and France and I understand that they have tailored the meetings to suit the winners, the technology companies,” he said.
“We have an office in Europe that we set up a year ago. For us it [the win] will help us meet more influential people and help gain market entry.”
Computronics Corporation began operating in 1976 originally in the application of electronics for the agriculture industry but now encompasses the manufacture of electronic information signs and displays.
“We started out providing electronic controls for farming machinery,” Mr Sharp said.
“In 1982 the company diversified into manufacturing electronic displays to provide a hedge against potential downturns in the local rural market.”
The company also owns the Farmscan brand, following the acquisition of Precision Farming Australia in 2001.
