Kingfisher International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | Melbourne, Australia (1986) |
| Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Number of employees | Under 30 |
| Website | kingfisherfiber |
Kingfisher International Pty Ltd[1] is an Australian manufacturer of fiber optic test and measurement equipment, located in Mulgrave, Victoria.[2] As of 2005, the company had twenty-two employees.[1]
Background
The company was founded in Melbourne in 1986.[3] as an international electronics trading firm, in a spare bedroom, by Rosmin Robertson (née Jaffer) and Bruce Robertson, Bruce developed the ground-breaking KI2000 Optical Light Source and KI020 Optical Talk Set.[4]
Bruce Robertson's technical involvement in fiber optics started 1980 - 1985, when he was a researcher at GEC's Hirst Research Centre in the UK, developing novel fiber optic cable designs, manufacturing processes, fiber optic sensors & instrumentation, and was awarded various patents.
In 1988, the business moved to a large garage, further contracts were won, and an Australian Federal R&D Grant[citation needed] was received for early development work on optical power meters, which culminated in the release of the KI6000 series power meters soon afterwards.[citation needed]
The company has always emphasized product quality and performance, so first achieved ISO9001 certification in 1994, and achieved Asia's first NATA accredited public optical calibration laboratory in 1993. The company continues to offer the industry's most accurate test equipment.
In 1991, Kingfisher had grown into its first factory in Rowville.[4] Kingfisher then located in facility in Scoresby from 2001 to May 2015, when it moved to new premises at 720 Springvale Road, Mulgrave Victoria 3170.
The company has always made its products in Australia.[4]
Kingfisher is one of the oldest fiber optic test companies,[1] and is regarded by industry elders as having a significant influence on the development of the industry.[5][6][7] Kingfisher products are used by professional technicians when installing and maintaining fiber optic cabling and systems, and its fiber optic test equipment range includes such items as, optical power meters, optical light sources, optical loss test sets, optical test and inspection kits, variable optical attenuators, inspection microscopes and various optical fault locators.
The company has worldwide distribution channels, and currently participates in various national and international standards development groups.
Since 2014, Kingfisher International has been wholly owned and managed by co-founder Bruce Robertson.
Awards and recognition
Various industry recognitions include:
- 1993-7 Telecom Australia (now Telstra) Export Endorsement[8]
- 1997 Photonics Magazine Circle of Excellence Award[citation needed]
- 1999 Dun & Bradstreet Export award[3][8]
- 2002 Governor of the State of Victoria export award[8]
- 2002 Australian exporter of the year national finalist[9]
- 2005 State of Victoria Manufacturing Hall of Fame[3][8][10]
- 2005 State of Victoria Photonics Network (VPN) Achievement Award[11]
References
- ^ a b c Ministry for manufacturing and export (May 12, 2005). "Media release: Two Scoresby manufacturers enter hall of fame". Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria, Australia. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- ^
"Kingfisher. Fiber optic instrument manufacturers". Kingfisher International. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
Our...factory is located in Scoresby, about 1 hour from Tullamarine airport.
- ^ a b c Garry Barker (July 28, 2007). "Kingfisher's vision finds global results. Business". The Age. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ^ a b c
"Kingfisher International world's first achievements". Kingfisher International. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
1991. Moved out of garage, into a small factory based in Rowville.
- ^ World Optical Light Source (OLS) Market Report, Frost & Sullivan 2007
- ^ World Optical Loss Test Set (OLTS) Market Report, Frost & Sullivan 2007
- ^ World Optical Power Meter (OPM) Market Report, Frost & Sullivan 2007
- ^ a b c d "Biography: Rosmin Robertson. Managing director, Kingfisher International" (PDF). NICTA. May 2007. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
- ^ http://www.exportawards.gov.au/Home-Awards/default.aspx%7C Export Awards[dead link]
- ^ http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD/PC_64186.html#IntNav05
- ^ "Media Release: Victorian ICT company wins international achievement". Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Victoria. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 2012-06-24.