Transport Engineering Research (Ternz) was last night named Manukau's best small business at the city's business excellence awards.
Founded in 1997 by Peter Bass and John de Pont, in association with Sam Charlton at Waikato University, Ternz supplies independent information aimed at improving efficiency, safety and environmental issues in the transportsector.
Over five years Ternz has grown from an initial team of two researchers to the equivalent of more than eight full-time workers.
The company has established a strong reputation for the quality and independence of its research as well as for innovation.
It was awarded last year's Innovation Award by the Chartered Institute of Transport for work in developing easy to use methods for assessing heavy vehicle stability.
"Primarily Ternz is involved in research to support policy in the transport area by investigating vehicle performance, infrastructure and human factors," de Pont said.
Ternz-applied research projects have included the geometrics and safety evaluations for the Transit NZ Heavy Vehicle Limits Project and a survey of truck driver fatigue for the Road Safety Trust.
The Foundation for Research Science and Technology provides the core of Ternz research activities.
A programme is now focusing on road user behaviour, including perceptions of risk and driver demographics.
The research institute is also looking at improving the life of roads and reducing the cost of roading.
As well as impressive growth in the business, Ternz has an enviable human resources performance.
Over five years it has had zero turnover, zero absenteeism and no time lost because of workplace injuries.
"Perhaps more than any other business, a research company depends on its staff.
"When a client buys our services for a research project they are buying Ternz's quality, integrity and independence together with the expertise, skills and knowledge of our staff," de Pont said.
"The first is meaningless without the latter.
"Our success in winning this award is primarily due to the performance of our staff."
