Marine technology innovations win top award

A company set up more than 20 years ago in a converted Warkworth garage won the supreme award at last night's Westpac Enterprise North Shore Business Excellence Awards.

High Modulus won the Supreme Business Excellence award for its innovations in marine technology.

It also won the Massey University Excellence in Technology Award and was a finalist in the Chelsea Sugar Excellence in Exporting Award.

High Modulus was begun in 1979 and now employs nearly 50 people.

A watershed for the company was the 1986 America's Cup when it was instrumental in developing composite structures for the New Zealand challenge's 12m yachts, the word's first to be made of fibreglass.

High Modulus has continued providing leading marine technology for Team New Zealand.

It has developed products such as fibreglass fabrics and fibreglass angle brackets to simplify bulkhead and joinery connections. High Modulus has operations in Australia and Britain. Other winners:

Hillside Building Supplies: A.C. Blackmore Excellence in Service Delivery Award.

Orcon Internet: 3M Excellence in Innovation Award.

Eco Insulation: Telecom Local Directories Best Emerging Business Award.

Kristin School: Actionmail & Alliance Construction Excellence in Marketing Award.

Warehouse Stationery: North Shore Times Advertiser Community Contribution Award.

Warehouse Stationery: TMP/Hudson Global Resources Employer of Choice Award.

Apprenticeship Training Trust: Tertiary Education Commission Excellence in Workplace Training Award.

Precision Autowerk: Smales Farm Excellence in Environmental Management Award.

De Bruin-Judge Furniture: ACC ThinkSafe Workplace Safety Award.

Tacit Group North Shore City: Chelsea Sugar Excellence in Exporting

The Spencer on Byron Hotel: Award Council Excellence in Tourism Award.