Bright idea in international spotlight at Brendale

The future is looking bright for Brendale-based Solar Bollard Lighting, almost one year on from earning regional recognition for exporting success.

Solar Bollard Lighting’s Mike Arieni. Picture: Dominika Lis

THE future is looking bright for Brendale-based Solar Bollard Lighting, almost one year on from earning regional recognition for exporting success.

Managing director Mike Arieni now has his sights on markets in northern America, Asia and Europe, among others, as he prepares for a serious push next year.

The business won the Regional Development Australia (RDA) Moreton Bay Exporting Excellence Award at last year’s Moreton Bay Region Business Excellence and Innovation Awards.

Mike says his team will head to the LIGHTFAIR International trade fair in Las Vegas in May for a serious push in to the US.

He’s also hoping his offer to provide free external lighting for the Australian pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai will be accepted and give the product even more international exposure.

It follows 16 years of hard work, which started when Mike and five mates were looking for “something different to do”.

The journey to international trade started with a fact-finding trip to Japan in 2003 and subsequent research and development work in Taiwan, before the first-generation solar bollard was ready for market at the end of 2005. “Solar didn’t have a good reputation. It was a hard market to crack,” Mike explains.

Solar Bollard Lighting at Brendale. Picture: Dominika Lis

The idea for bollard lighting came when he was at a rugby game with his son on the Sunshine Coast and noticed damaged bollards at the ground. He contacted the local council and asked if they would be interested in a vandal-resistant alternative.

The product was launched in 2006 and Mike exported his first one in 2007.

The solar bollards are now used at US Navy and Air Force bases, the US Embassy in Baghdad, Kobe Port in Japan, by mining companies in Africa and local authorities in the US, to name a few. They can also be found in local council areas across Australia, tourist parks and are used by mining companies and government departments.

The bollards are vandal and impact resistant, and submersible, which means they are perfect for flood-prone areas or regions which are affected by cyclones or hurricanes.

Components are manufactured across South East Queensland, and tested and assembled at Brendale. “Winning the export award created more awareness of who we are domestically. We’ve always been the silent achiever, we just go about our business every day and keep to ourselves,” he says.

Nominations for this year’s awards are open to businesses, entrepreneurs and organisations in the Moreton Bay Region. The 2019 Moreton Bay Region Business Excellence and Innovation Awards are presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council and Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism.

Visit businessawardsmoretonbayregion.com.au for details. Nominations close September 2, finalists are announced October 21 and awards presented on November 29.

RDA Moreton Bay director Nette Griggs, Solar Bollard Lighting’s Mike Arieni and deputy mayor Mike Charlton. Picture: Dominika Lis

MEET THE JUDGES

Deborah Morandin: Entrepreneurs Paradise Chief Executive Officer

Sharon Armstrong: Business owner and active business community member

Professor Karen Becker: USC Business School Deputy Head and Professor of Management

Nette Griggs: Regional Development Australia Moreton Bay Director

Mat Davis: Australian Coastal and Marine Ecology Coastal Protection Core founder

Peter Kellett: Grace Lutheran College Innovation, Enterprise, Technology manager

Mike Smith: Founder and start-up mentor and business technology specialist

Deborah Wilson: OnTalent Careers, Leadership Development and Consulting Services Head

Paul Russell: Executive Director Innovation Programs and Engagement, State Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development

Tracy Constable: AusIndustry Queensland Stakeholder Engagement Manager

Shaun Reeves: SRJ Walker Wayland Director and chartered accountant

Margaret Goody: Managing director, human resources and employee relations strategist

Bob Crudgington: Redcliffe Environmental Forum President

Dominque Clymo: News Corp Australia Commercial Strategy Manager

Cathie Johnston: Brisbane Marketing Experience Development Manager, Leisure Tourism & Major Events

Dominic Lis: Sales Director

Hilton Misso: Lawyer and businessman

Justin Grace: Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications

Ngaire Stirling: Brisbane Kids Managing Director