Robway Crane Safety Systems is delighted to announce it has appointed Stephen Howson to the newly created role of General Manager. Stephen will be working to sustain the company’s rapid growth and provide strategic support to the management team.
He has extensive experience in a manufacturing environment, and has held executive positions in the South Australian public sector with the Department of Administration and Information Services and the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Stephen’s appointment is one of a number of decisions made by Robway’s owners, Andrew Powell and Andrew Toop in maintaining the momentum of the fast growing South Australian based electronics company. Recently, Robway expanded their Thebarton manufacturing facility and opened an office in Dubai to support growing sales in the Middle East, Europe, India and Africa.
Electronics Industry Association (EIA) executive director Greg Bassani congratulated Robway on both its recent export growth and the appointment of Mr Howson. “Robway Crane Safety Systems is just one of the 400 electronics companies in South Australia contributing to the State’s $1.3 billion in electronics exports,” stated Mr Bassani.
A critical factor that will ensure the future success of electronics industry growth is a steady supply of appropriately skilled staff. Currently many electronics engineers are recruited from interstate and overseas. This is an issue that the EIA has been addressing for the past two years, culminating in the creation of the Electronics Industry Education Initiative (ei)2.
“Many people don’t realise that there are more than 400 electronics companies in South Australia and that 13,000 people are employed,” said Bassani. “However, our electronics industry struggles for recognition because it is seen as part of other industries such as manufacturing or defence.”
“Although when young people and their parents learn about the size and career opportunities available in the electronics industry they become very, very interested,” added Mr Bassani. “Most career paths in electronics will lead to a career packed with exciting leading edge technology projects, international travel and great pay. It will be anything but ordinary and perfect for students with an aptitude for maths.”
Mr Bassani went on to explain that this is the message that the EIA is broadcasting as it continues to reach out to high school students, parents, teachers and uni students via its (ei)2 program. Graduates tend to be the best advocates of their profession and the reason why the EIA hand picks a batch of graduates each year to speak to high school students at its annual career evening in August.
Mr Bassani said “We’ve discovered that one of the most effective ways for young people to learn about an electronics career is to hear other young electronics professionals talk about their own experiences. This also helps to overcome the resistance that many year 11 and 12’s have about tertiary study.
“Learning about electronics in the classroom is another way to inspire our electronics engineers of tomorrow. The EIA is currently utilising a $9,000 Office for Youth grant to enable 15 South Australian schools to give their students a taste of new age technology ideas and equipment. Instigated by the Electronics Industry Association in conjunction with TAFE SA, high school students build their own electronic torch giving them hands on experience in the world of electronic circuitry. A Senior TAFE SA Regency Park lecturer supervises the lesson revealing how an electronics circuit works and also outlines exciting career paths in electronics via an action packed video.”
Mr Bassani added that the EIA has created a CD-ROM to inform students, parents and Career Counsellors about the benefits of a career in South Australia’s booming electronics industry. A video clip from the CD-ROM can be watched on the EIA website at www.eiaa.asn.au.
Mr Bassani said that teachers and students who would like to be put on the mailing list about the career evening or would like to take part in an electronics workshop should contact the EIA by phoning 08-8272 5222 or by emailing Andrea McCarthy on amccarthy@eiaa.asn.au.