ORGANISATION
Varian Australia Pty Ltd
ESTABLISHED
1962
LOCATION
Mulgrave (Australia)
SPECIALISING IN
Scientific instruments used to measure chemical compounds and metals in various substances in life science and industrial applications.
EMPLOYEES
400 plus
GROSS TURNOVER
$73.250m
MARKETS
International >95%
HIGHLIGHTS
Forty years of innovations around optical spectroscopy.
www.varianinc.com
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‘EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH IN LIFE’
Philip Binns, Managing Director, Varian Australia
THE CORE THEME
Varian Australia is a scientific instrument company which, as Managing Director Philip Binns says, ‘makes products that most consumers don’t see: but everything that you touch in life, whether it’s food or pharmaceuticals or products, has either been tested or part of the R&D for the product has been done using one of our products.’
Varian Australia exports about 97% of its output and Philip attributes this success to a culture in which ‘pretty much every step we’ve taken has been on the back of either an invention or a major innovation.’ Philip summarises the approach by saying that ‘innovation has truly been the core theme of this company for over forty years.’
THE GAME CHANGERS
Varian Australia, as a company, Philip says, ‘is constantly innovating throughout the organisation.’ These innovations may be small changes to a product for an identified customer need or they may be the result of
a fundamental new technology development. According to Philip it is this second category of innovation that usually produces the ‘game changers in our industry.’
‘We have to be quick and we have to take calculated risks.’
Philip Binns, Managing Director, Varian Australia
INNOVATION DEPENDS ON PEOPLE
An important element of the Varian Australia approach to innovation is to review technologies that have been developed across the company’s history. Philip explains that ‘we have some technologies and processes that are as old as our company and they’re still relevant and they still add value in our organisation. And what we’ve done is built on those over time.’
Philip acknowledges that innovation, which has been critical to Varian Australia’s success, depends on people.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about Industry Innovation Councils:
WEB www.innovation.gov.au/industryinnovationcouncils
EMAIL innovationcouncils@innovation.gov.au
PHONE +61 2 6213 7221
Manager
Industry Innovation Councils Team
Department of Innovation,
Industry, Science and Research
GPO Box 9839
Canberra ACT 2601