NeoProducts in the Guardian
Neo CEO, Philip Lelliott, gave an interview today to the Guardian. The newspaper are compiling a feature on businesses in Birmingham - no doubt prompted by news of Neo’s near neighbour: Cadbury, who look set to be taken over by Kraft.The Guardian wanted to know what attracted a company previously based in Melbourne, Australia to set up a factory in the West Midlands ten years ago. Philip was delighted to explain the advantages of being situated in the heart of England and at the hub of the UK’s transport infrastructure. The region is also home to a highly trained, motivated and flexible workforce. Neo benefited greatly from the skills of the people it recruited, many of whom came from the automotive industry. They helped Neo grow to become a world-leading manufacturer of interactive kiosks.
We look forward to seeing the feature.
21 January 2010
Ten-Year Partnership
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We are celebrating 10 years in the West Midlands with the launch of the ground-breaking e-wrap system - high-quality, personalised vinyl skins that decorate and protect mobile phones. Using interactive touch-screen kiosks, customers can select their preferred design, and a vinyl skin is then cut to the exact specification of their electronic device, including mobile phones, hand-held games consoles, MP3 players and laptops. e-wrap has already enjoyed two successful pilots at Aston Villa FC and West Bromwich Albion FC this season, where fans were able to personalise their mobile phones with club logos. |
The then Melbourne-based NeoProducts established UK premises in the West Midlands in 1999. They were put in contact with AWM via Austrade - the Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Agency. AWM’s Inward Investment team went on to provide the company with advice and support in finding commercial property and detailed regional information. The company employs around 30 people at its 20,000 sq ft facility in Kings Norton. Its first major contract was to assemble around 9,000 touch-screen kiosks for job centres around the UK.
Philip Lelliott, Group Chief Executive at NeoProducts, said: "e-wrap is an exciting and innovative new product which is growing in popularity in Australia and in the UK."
"We have an excellent track record of business with our touch-screen kiosks. From the initial contract and application with Jobcentre Plus, we’ve now diversified our kiosk range into a number of new products including digital photo kiosks in Boots to music download kiosks in HMV."
"The kiosks are the perfect platform for our e-wrap system which personalises mobiles with vinyl skins of the highest resolution and quality in just minutes. Football fans loved them, they had a real wow factor."
David Fisken, International Business Manager at Advantage West Midlands, said: "AWM is responsible for working overseas to promote the region and NeoProducts is one of our success stories over the past 10 years."
"They are at the cutting edge of innovation and the company regularly supports our efforts in attracting other Australian businesses to the West Midlands, based on their own positive experiences of doing business here.
"In return, we continue to support the company as they continue to develop and grow. For example, we’re working with NeoProducts to put them in touch with opportunities arising from the London 2012 Games. NeoProducts had the contract for information kiosks at the Sydney Games back in 2000 and have some innovative ideas for the 2012 Games using their touch-screen kiosks."
More than 60 per cent of of Australian investment into Europe comes to the UK and there are now an estimated 80 Australian-owned companies registered in the West Midlands. In 2008/09, UK Trade & Investment recorded 65 investment projects from Australia creating 943 new jobs in the UK. AWM was involved in bringing eight of those projects to this region, creating or safeguarding 129 jobs.
NeoProducts is an international leader in the design, manufacture and implementation of touch screen kiosks and interactive kiosk software. Since 1987, Neo has delivered over 40,000 kiosks worldwide and has particular expertise in digital photo kiosks; digital music kiosks; job search kiosks, and in the design of self-service kiosk user interfaces. Neo can supply complete kiosk solutions - including hardware, software, project management and support.
17 November 2009
Advantage West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands - the government development agency for the UK’s West Midlands region - is tens years old. To celebrate this anniversary, they have published a review.
Building For Our Future - A Decade in Review catches up with progress on a handful of Advantage West Midlands’ most successful projects over the past decade - projects delivered with the support of many public and private sector partners. And the establishment of NeoProducts in the UK is featured.
"In 1999, Melbourne-based NeoProducts were on the verge of securing a major contract in the UK and were looking for premises. The company, which designs and manufactures interactive touch screen kiosks, was put in contact with Advantage West Midlands via Austrade - the Australian Government’s Trade and Investment Agency - who advised that it was looking for help in finding the ideal location for its UK operations.
Advantage West Midlands’ Inward Investment team provided the company with advice and support in finding commercial property and detailed regional information. Thanks to this advice and support, the company decided that a 20,000 sq ft facility at Kings Norton Business Centre, Birmingham would be the right location for its contract to assemble around 9,000 touch screen kiosks for job centres around the UK.
Philip Lelliott, Group Chief Executive at NeoProducts, said: "The Birmingham facility has not only become NeoProducts’ UK HQ but also an important location for us to serve Europe from. From the initial contract and application with Jobcentre Plus, we’ve now diversified our kiosk range into a number of new products including digital photo kiosks in Boots to music download kiosks in HMV.
David Fisken, International Business Manager at Advantage West Midlands said: "Advantage West Midlands’ Australian office has excellent relations with NeoProducts and the company regularly supports our efforts in attracting other Australian businesses to the West Midlands, based on their own positive experiences of doing business here. In return, we continue to support the company as they develop and grow. For example, we’re working with NeoProducts to put them in touch with opportunities arising from the London 2012 Games. NeoProducts had the contract for information kiosks at the Sydney Games back in 2000 and has some innovative ideas for the 2012 Games using their touch screen kiosks.
The company has also recently set up e-Wrap, an operating business within the NeoProducts Group and the latest in a line of innovative applications from the touch screen technology the company develops. NeoProducts has written the software and designed and assembled the touch screen kiosks in the UK from which customers can select a decorative, personalised and protective wrap for all types and models of mobile phones, i-Pods, laptops, digital cameras and game consoles."
10 November 2009
Products Group 2010