Immersive training experts Nexefy outshone three other virtual and extended reality businesses in a pitch challenge run by drinks company Frucor Suntory and the Queensland government.
The challenge, part of the government’s Advance Queensland program, was to pitch innovative training and safety solutions in a manufacturing environment.
Nexefy won $80,000 and the opportunity to collaborate with Frucor Suntory on virtual training and safety programs for the company’s $400m-plus manufacturing and distribution facility in Swanbank, Queensland, which is currently under construction.
Frucor Suntory program transformation director, Mark Toomey, said, “It’s been fantastic to see the creativity and talent that the local business community has to offer. Our site will be world-class, and it’s incredible to be able to source the technology and expertise we need locally as we build our new facility. The site is due to be online mid-2024 and we’re incredibly excited about our future.”
Nexefy specialises in creating immersive training experiences, using extended reality to create transformational learning programs. This approach will be a game changer in a manufacturing environment as training can be delivered in a truly immersive way with zero safety risk for participants, it said.
Queensland innovation minister Stirling Hinchliffe said collaboration with industry, local start-ups and entrepreneurs was important for building Queensland jobs and manufacturing.
“Pitch challenges backed by Advance Queensland have a great track record for connecting the Queensland knowhow of home-grown start-ups like Nexefy with Australian and international investors.
“The Advance Queensland initiative is about turning great Queensland ideas into the job creating Queensland industries of the future in a competitive global environment,” Hinchliffe said.
Nexefy will embark on a partnership pilot program with Frucor Suntory to expand and refine the solution for implementation at the new facility.
(Source: Beca)
The Swanbank facility will be an entirely net-zero operation and have the immediate capacity to deliver 20 million cases per annum, with the opportunity to scale in the coming years.
Construction has commenced and the facility is set to come online in mid-2024.
