McCORMACK WELCOMES $824,791 GRANT FOR FLIPSCREEN

A $824,791 Federal Government grant for Wagga Wagga company Flipscreen will take it to a new level of production and growth.

Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced the grant at Flipscreen’s Copland Street premises today.

Mr McCormack said the grant had been delivered through the Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

“The grant will allow Flipscreen to build and market a new on-site crushing system for the mining and recycling industries,” Mr McCormack said.

“The new crusher bucket will achieve high-volume crushing rates with a significantly larger range of crush sizes compared to competing products.

“Flipscreen is one of those companies which has taken Wagga Wagga to the world stage in manufacturing and I am delighted the Government is backing the company’s latest innovation which will strengthen and grow the business.”

Flipscreen managing director Sam Turnbull described the grant as a great thing for the company.

“It means we can undertake a project that was probably otherwise out of our reach,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It will be a great addition to our business.”

Mr Turnbull said the new machine was a perfect fit for Flipscreen’s existing product range.

“We have gone from screening to being able to screen and crush, making us a complete recycling solution,” Mr Turnbull said.

Flipscreen has 32 employees in Wagga, three staff in the United States of America and two staff in Canada.

It manufactures 312 machines a year.

“We export $3.5 million worth of machines a year and the rest are sold in Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.

“This $1.65 million project will see Flipscreen more than double our exports over the next three years.

“We export to 40 countries and every continent, including Antarctica.”

All machines proudly carry the message ‘Made in Wagga Wagga’.

The Entrepreneurs' Programme is the Australian Government's flagship program supporting business growth, innovation and commercialisation.

The Government has invested almost $224 million in commercialising new products, processes and services over the past five years.

More than 467 Accelerating Commercialisation grants have been awarded to Australian businesses to get their products off the ground.

Grants include $516,715 to another Wagga Wagga innovation, Dr Mark Wotherspoon’s Hygenie – a device for cleaning, storing and protecting removable oral devices – and $644,370 to Wagga Wagga company Zetifi to start up a new business which will help provide better connectivity for people in rural and remote areas.