Farm Machinery, Manufacturers

Brisbane ag innovators win big

Innovations in mulch film have led to a Brisbane company being named Australian Technology Company of the Year

 

Brisbane plastic manufacturing company Hydrox Technologies, has taken out the Australian Technology Company of the Year award at this year’s Australian Technologies Competition (ATC) in Sydney.

One of 13 finalists, the Hydrox Technology team took to the stage to showcase their game-changing Solar Shrink technology at the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Lighthouse Gallery on November 15.

And if that wasn’t enough, Hydrox Technologies was also took home the 2018 Food & Agribusiness Award to go with their many awards this year.

TradeFarmMachinery.com.au & Farms & Farm Machinery Magazine was lucky enough to meet Rob and Mark Trenchard of Hydrox Technologies earlier this year, and covered the incredible story of their revolutionary mulch film.


Check out our story from May here


“We are grateful for the platform offered by the Australian Technologies Competition to pitch to a live audience of investors and business mentors,” Hydrox Technologies director Rob Trenchard says.

“Winning the competition provides our company with not only the prestigious recognition and publicity, but also validation of our business plans to take our product global. This competition allowed us to refine our business model, I would recommend any startup to enter.”

Brothers Rob and Mark haven’t let road blocks get in their way of success. In fact, Solar Shrink was developed in the wake of disaster.

During the 2011 Brisbane Floods, the company lost all of its machinery and almost their company. By salvaging two machines and some Aussie grit, the brothers instead created its Solar Shrink mulch film.

A game-changer, Solar Shrink mulch film differs from other films because it shrinks very tightly to soil beds when it meets heat, unlike standard film that expands. It’s also 300 per cent stronger and uses roughly 20-35 per cent less plastic than standard mulch film

Now supplying more than 50 per cent of the Australian market, the company intends to launch its product to the global market. 

Send this to a friend