Our Achievements

AUSTRALIAN CHAR WINS EXPORT AWARD

November 2006
Heat Beads^® - Australian BBQ Icon and Export Success

Innovation, commitment and persistence received Government recognition when Professor David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria, presented Australian Char Pty Ltd with the 2006 Governor of Victoria Export Award - Minerals & Energy, for the successful export activity of its Heat Beads® BBQ briquettes. The award is reserved for outstanding export achievement in the production or primary processing of extractive and value-added minerals or energy products. Australian Char automatically progresses as a national finalist to the 2006 Australian Export Awards held on November 30th.

For the past fifteen years the company's success in growing international markets for Australia's iconic Heat Beads® BBQ briquettes has been impressive, as ever increasing volumes have been delivered across Europe, Asia and Middle East. Over the past five years export growth of Heat Beads® BBQ briquettes has accelerated to more than 35% per year.

This international success has been fuelled by the local success Australian Char has generated with the Heat Beads® brand, the undisputed leader in the barbecue briquette stakes. Export of the Heat Beads® brand has also contributed significantly to the Australian economy, despite a general decline in export activity - an achievement recognised by the Victorian Government.

Australian Char's relentless commitment to being Australia's number one manufacturer of quality carbon has resulted in the export success of Heat Beads® barbecue briquettes. "Our core business as a char manufacturer has extended to see us become a quality supplier of char and barbecue fuel to domestic and international markets. Our commitment to innovation and quality has been vindicated," says Lee Gilmour.

The business had its humble beginnings in Morwell, Victoria, over 35 years ago with the carbonisation of Latrobe Valley brown coal into char for use in industry as a replacement for wood charcoal.

Industrial applications of char include being applied as a reducing agent for the production of ferrosilicon, controlling carbon in the iron and steel industries where purity and low sulphur content is essential, and as an activated carbon product for the control of water and atmospheric pollution in various liquid and gas phase absorption processes.

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