Canberra
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has named Queensland premium auto manufacturer PWR Performance Products as the 2012 Australian Exporter of the Year.
PWR Performance Products caters to the high-performance racing industry and automotive aftermarket. Its range includes light-weight radiators, oil coolers and intercoolers.
Over 50 per cent of Formula 1 teams and 90 per cent of NASCAR teams now use PWR cooling solutions and the company recently secured contracts with Porsche, Pagani, and Jaguar-Williams among others.
Last financial year it increased export sales by 33 per cent.
The Prime Minister congratulated PWR Performance Products on setting a new benchmark for high-value Australian manufacturing.
The Australian Export Awards this year marked its 50th anniversary, making it one of the country's longest-running business award programs, as well as one of the most prestigious.
The Awards honour successful Australian exporters and celebrate their contribution to the national economy.
The Prime Minister's Australian Exporter of the Year is selected from the winners of 12 national categories.
PWR Performance Products was also the winner of the Small to Medium Manufacturer Award.
The 50th Australian Export Awards ceremony was hosted in Canberra tonight by Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson, and co-presented by the Australian Trade Commission and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.