I first came across the Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net) quite by chance in the DSRD offices, Crown Street, Wollongong about September 2007. I met Mike O’Brien, Chairman of the i3net, as I was leaving the Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD) and was introduced by Steve Sanders of AusIndustry. I did some initial investigation at the time but having no immediate need thought little more about it.
In late 2008, 21 November to be exact, Oceanlinx needed to complete some structural repairs to its Mk1 Full Scale Prototype but was finding a shortage of capacity in the area to do the work in the time we needed it. It was looking like we might have to wait until after the new year to be able to start the job!
Recalling the brief meeting with Mike a year earlier, I contacted Sandy Haig, i3net Network Co-ordinator, who in turn put me in contact with Michael Bowditch, i3net Director of Business Development all within a matter of hours.
The subsequent result was, Oceanlinx found a competent and capable supplier of services in the area who had the capacity to help us in our hour of need. We have continued our relationship with ABB thoughout the first half of 2009 and with luck will continue to do so.
In summary, the i3net gave me access to competent and capable industrial organisations in the Illawarra region that I would otherwise not have known were there and available to help.
Stuart Weylandsmith | Chief Operating Officer
Oceanlinx Limited
Level 2, 2A Lord Street, Botany, NSW, Australia, 2019
PO Box 116, Botany, NSW, Australia, 1455 |
