On the way, Tapex created the world’s first synthetic flat strap, invented the world’s first waterless hockey pitch and even gave the world the terry towelling hat.

It’s a remarkable journey which Managing Director Phillip Rossi attributes to a commitment to innovation: “Our growth has been down to creating highly innovative products.”

That growth has been impressive. In 2003, annual revenue was $32 million, in 2007 it will surpass $80 million. The last five years have seen an average growth of 30 per cent each year, leading to Tapex featuring in BRW’s Fast 100 list for two years in a row.

The commitment to innovation is backed with $3 million annual investment in Research and Development. Mr Rossi sees this as the key to staying ahead: “We’re aware that there are lots of ‘me-too’ companies that can take our products and get them copied overseas so we continually innovate, continually develop new products that no-one else can produce.”

Article continues below…

That product development has been going on a long time. Back in the 1970s Tapex saw there was need to increase safety around manholes and so developed a barrier fence for open manholes. Such was its impact that legislation was passed to promote its use.

One of Tapex’s best known products, ‘Fairwarning’, was developed because there was no existing way of warning where pipes lay in the ground. Working closely with Standards Australia, Tapex was able to give governments, piping companies and public utilities higher levels of safety and a reduced number of error digs. When Telstra (Telecom as it was then) was laying down its fibre optic network in the early nineties, there was no effective existing detection system. Tapex developed a completely new one. It was so impressive that Tapex still hold the contract for supply, fifteen years later.

This commitment to working with customers to create specific solutions has helped Tapex maintain its edge over rivals who are dependant on importing.

By producing all their products locally from predominately Australian components Tapex can offer an unmatched flexibility and speedy turn around.

“If a customer wants a mesh or tape that is a different colour or a different width we can produce it without a problem,” says Mr Rossi.

“Two of our biggest customers Olex and Prysmian come to us continually for custom made products. Importers simply cannot match that.”

Tapex’s innovation is now being sought across the world. In addition to the twelve countries on their export list, Tapex has just started a long term contract with to supply two 40 ft containers of protective mesh to India every month. Look out for even more expansion and innovation over the coming years.