High-tech exports

Press, 15 May 1985, Page 40

High-tech exports

Philips staff members had their cake and ate it too, as they celebrated a multi million dollar order for high-tech electronics equipment for Australia last week.

Design engineers and production staff gathered in the Professional Production Line, at Philips New Zealand Ltd’s Naenae Electronic Centre, to celebrate an order for more than a thousand locally-designed and built SBX small business telephone exchanges. The order has been placed through the Australian Philips organisation. The management of Philips had commissioned a special cake for the occasion in the shape of an SBX

unit and Philips telephone. The cake measured 30cm x 56cm x scm and the Minister of Overseas trade, Hon Mike Moore, was invited to cut the first slice. Mr Moore told the staff that they were making a valuable contribution to the country’s drive towards establishing a high technology export industry. The managing director of Philips, Mr J. A. M. Romme, said the company was continuing development of the SBX family of products, which he called a good example of Kiwi ingenuity and high tech skill. There had already been great interest in the product from regions as diverse as Europe and the People’s

Republic of China, he said. He also paid tribute to the co-operation Philips had recived from the New Zealand Post Office in developing the SBX.

A Philips New Zealand team has just returned from a visit to China, where SBX aroused great interest among telecommunication authorities.

The SBX family was conceived, designed and developed by Philips engineers working at the Sir John Marshall Design and Development Laboratory, at the Naenae Electronic Centre. The product is entirely local, and manufactured by the Professional Production Line at Naenae.