Industry news
HI tech, Firewire Surfboards take on USA market
Tuesday 27 February 2007
A Gold Coast company behind a new breed of high-tech surfboards is about to make its biggest splash yet in the world's most lucrative surfing market - the USA.
Firewire Surfboards at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast has secured its largest export order to date - 1400 boards worth more than $700,000.
"Firewire's smart manufacturing processes have helped it almost quadruple its manufacturing capacity in less than six months, now producing 300 boards a week," says Premier Peter Beattie.
"That figure is expected to rise to 400 very soon."
Firewire has received a $30,000 Queensland Industry Development Scheme grant to develop its manufacturing strengths.
Beattie says Firewire's success is also about innovation, with its boards made from a fibre composite material that means they are more environmentally friendly, flexible, durable and lighter than traditional fibreglass boards.
"By using specially-developed robotic technology, Firewire boards are also manufactured more cost effectively and in less than half the time of the old traditional boards," he said.
"At full capacity, Firewire could be producing some 20,000 surfboards for the hungry world market in the next year."
Since opening its Gold Coast headquarters in September 2006, Firewire has increased its staff from 12 to more than 40.
Firewire board members and shareholders include former Billabong Chief Executive Matthew Perrin, ex-Billabong General Manager Dougall Walker, golfers Adam Scott and Ian Baker-Finch, and Gold Coast surfboard builder Nev Hyman.
Ranked number four in the world, Australian surfer Taj Burrows rides Firewire surfboards in the international surfing circuit, and current world number one surfer American Kelly Slater is also a Firewire fan.
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