AAAE: Redarc rewarded in Melbourne

BY MATT BROGAN | 15th Apr 2024


SOUTH Australian automotive electronics manufacturer Redarc Group was one of several aftermarket industry players to be recognised for excellence and innovation at the 2024 Auto Aftermarket Awards held as part of last week’s Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo in Melbourne. 
 
Nearly 700 industry guests gathered to share what is recognised as a major industry highlight, the awards spanning a range of categories, including the newly introduced Automotive Sustainability Business award, the Automotive Education Excellence award, and the Women at the Wheel award. 
 
The gala evening also marked the opportunity to honour several of the automotive aftermarket’s brightest stars. 
 
Redarc Group managing director Anthony Kittel took home the Outstanding Service to Industry award while multiple Pedders Suspension and Brakes franchisee Lex Gelmi received the Kim Aunger Young Achiever award. 
 
Penrite Oil Company matriarch Margaret Dymond was inducted to the Australian Automotive Aftermarket (AAAA) Hall of Fame, as was co-founder of technical information and training network The Automotive Technician, Jeff Smit. 
 
“The awards dinner was a truly special night that reinforces my admiration for this incredible industry,” said AAAA chief executive Stuart Charity. 
 
“The vibe was electric, and importantly we were able celebrate and reward those achieving great things in our industry. Congratulations to all our award winners at the Gala, and the Innovation Awards Breakfast. It is inspirational for all of us.” 
 
Speaking with GoAuto on the success of Redarc at this year’s awards, Mr Kittel said the Most Innovative New Product – Electrical award recognises the hard work and innovative thinking shown by the Redarc Group team. 
 
“The TVMS Rogue was fully designed, developed, and manufactured in South Australia by our engineers. This advanced product recognises and provides for the sophistication and power requirements of larger caravans and more complex rear-of-body canopies, particularly in trade vehicles and commercial applications,” he said. 
 
“We looked at how we could design a more compact system, but also give some extra ‘smarts’ into the design. This unit allows operates to do much more than before … and it is a really big credit to the Redarc team. 
 
“We invest 15 per cent of our revenue back into R&D every year, so our team is very sophisticated in terms of hardware and electronic designers, software and firmware designers, mechanical design physicists, data scientists, and so on. 
 
“The team is evolving all the time, and awards like these pay credit to all the hard work they do – and the sophisticated products they are developing.” 
 
Mr Kittel told GoAuto he was equally proud that Redarc’s commitment to sustainability was recognised by this year’s inaugural Automotive Business Sustainability award. 
 
“We’re also very proud to say that we design and build our products here in Australia, and that we are a sustainable business, which the Automotive Business Sustainability award recognises,” he added. 
 
“We now supply 48 per cent of our total energy demands for our factory in Adelaide from solar renewable energy, and we’re doing a lot more in that space in the months and years to come. 
 
“We want to show that we are more than a manufacturing business – we want to show that we are a very sustainable and environmentally friendly business that our employees are passionate about, and that it is a great place to work.” 
 

On his Outstanding Service to Industry award, Mr Kittel humbly said there were “many more deserving people” in the automotive aftermarket sector than himself.

 

 

2024 AAAE Awards Honour Roll – Excellence Awards: 

 

Kim Aunger Young Achiever 

Lex Gelmi, Pedders Suspension & Brakes 

Outstanding Service to Industry 

Anthony Kittel, Redarc Group 

Hall of Fame Inductee 

Margaret Dymond, Penrite Oil Company 

Hall of Fame Inductee 

Jeff Smith, The Automotive Technician 

Terry Mahoney Excellence in Marketing 

Nulon Products Australia 

Excellence in Manufacturing 

FMP Group 

Excellence in Export 

Redarc Group 

Excellence in Employee Engagement 

Repco Authorised Service 

Automotive Education Excellence 

Clinton Brett, Diesel Help Australia 

Women at the Wheel 

Priscilla Robb 

Excellence in Repair & Service – Franchise 

Maryborough Service Centre (Repco) 

Excellence in Repair & Service – Individual 

Cody McKay, Radical Automotive 

 

 

2024 AAAE Awards Honour Roll – Innovation Awards: 

 

Most Innovative New Product – 4WD 

Zeder Corporation 

Most Innovative New Product – Accessories 

Brown & Watson International 

Most Innovative New Product – Electrical 

Redarc Group 

Most Innovative New Product – Parts 

FMP Group 

Most Innovative New Product – Tools 

CoolDrive Auto Parts 

Most Innovative Community Impact Program 

mycar Tyre & Auto 

Most Innovative Marketing Campaign 

mycar Tyre & Auto 

Most Innovative e-Commerce Solution 

Zeder Corporation 

Automotive Business Sustainability 

Redarc Group 

 

 

2024 AAAE Awards Honour Roll – Expo Stand Awards: 

 

Under 36 square metres 

Megabus 

Over 36 square metres 

Brembo 

 

Read more

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