Austrade media release
5 October 2010
Australian-made aquatic equipment has been critical in preparing for events in the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The equipment is designed and manufactured by Queensland-based company Anti Wave, headed by founder, Anton Kajlich, a former professional water polo player.
Anti Wave produces a wide range of equipment for swimming pools and water polo, including racing lanes, starting blocks, water polo goals, judges’ stations, pool deck gratings, moveable bulkheads and floors and submersible swim walls.
The equipment selected for Delhi will be used in both the Main Pool and training pools and was made at Anti Wave’s main operation and factory in Ipswich, Queensland.
Anti Wave is a leading innovator in swim, leisure and pool programming equipment and has a long and tested history in supplying products for major aquatic events.
Mr Kajlich said, “Our major event experience goes back some forty years. We were first selected to supply aquatic equipment for the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 and we have been supplying equipment for major events ever since.
“At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Anti Wave products were used in 15 World Records and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics our products were used in 20 World Records,” he said.
Anti Wave’s unique swimming lanes were first patented in 1975 and used in the World Swimming Championships that same year.
Mr Kajlich said that Austrade had been a key factor in Anti Wave’s success in being chosen to supply aquatic equipment for the Commonwealth Games in India.
“No matter how good your product, you always have to work at getting each new contract. Austrade was there for us when it mattered – to help us when we were pitching – and we very much appreciate the assistance we received from the Austrade Delhi office,” Mr Kajlich said.
The company also has a factory in Ding Guo, in southern China, and licencing and marketing arrangements in many countries around the world, including China, India, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Anti Wave is one of 47 Australian companies that are delivering on contracts worth over $83 million for the Games. These companies are providing a range of services such as pyrotechnics, design of Games venues, IT consultancy, logistics and coordination of the Queens Baton Relay, security and broadcasting.
There is an opportunity for further growth, with India preparing for other major sporting events like the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the 2011 Formula One.
Business Club Australia (BCA) is the Australian Government’s official business networking program at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. It is a platform for boosting business connections against the backdrop of the Games.
Manager, Ashley White said, “Over 2000 Australian and Indian business people are expected to get together and do business at Business Club Australia, in a series of 22 events over 11 days of competition.
“Key sectors include agribusiness, sustainable building, education, food and beverage and financial services among many others,” Mr White said.
The introduction of Australian suppliers to international games and events is the result of the combined efforts of Austrade, Industry Capability Network (ICN) and the Australian International Sporting Events Secretariat (AISES). This initiative has the support of the Australian Government’s Supplier Access to Major Projects (SAMP) program and the state governments of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Available for interview:
Mr Ashley White, Manager, Business Club Australia, Austrade
Mr Anton Kajlich, Anti Wave
ENDS
Media contact
Purnima Ganapathy, Communications Manager, Business Club Australia
Phone: +91 88266 19052
Purnima.Ganapathy@austrade.gov.au
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