Over the last 22 years, Point Trading Group has built a solid reputation for delivering quality products and customer service - something that the company attributes to its research and development program.

Gadi Bichler, General Manager says, “Point Trading invests heavily in research and development. Our understanding of how our products are used by the user in their operations enables us to continually improve the products, and develop accessories that enhance their benefit. Our responsiveness to all client feedback to innovate and improve our product sets us apart.”

Located in three facilities in Victoria, the company’s Head Office is based in South Melbourne, with the research and development and electro-optical facility in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne and a warehousing facility in south eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Point Trading operates seven divisions, each with a specific focus on:

• Chemical Biological Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) - CBR detection and protection equipment for infrastructure and personnel including field detectors and fixed detectors; CBR protective clothing; CBR portable structures, CBR decontamination solutions; filters, first aid and evacuation equipment.
• Electro optical, Thermal & Laser - night vision; image intensifier tubes; thermal cameras and thermal components; laser based devices; IR illumination systems; bore sight devices; and laser & thermal testing and calibration equipment.
• Weapon Enhancements - Weapon enhancement devices that enhance the performance, safety and accuracy of in-service weapons.
• Ballistic Protection Equipment - ballistic protection equipment for personnel, light armour vehicles, sea and air vessels.
• Geo-spatial - tactical systems that provide map and aerial photography creation in real time, with the additional overlays of change detection, and DTM analysis.
• Police Accoutrements and Law Enforcement Specialised Equipment including Forensic Extractor devices.
• Medical - first aid for CBR, isolation chambers, fast deployed field hospitals, forensic testing equipment, and hospital filtration systems.

The company’s Geo-spatial Division was developed from a requirement to provide internal support to their defence projects. The Division is now operating as an independent company (Airtech Australia) providing a range of emergency mapping and aerial imagery response to governments and industry requirements.

Point Trading offers a complete service including testing and calibration, ongoing maintenance and support and training for all supplied products within Australia through Point Trading Services.

Point Trading Services is located in a newly commissioned 1000sqm service facility, equipped with a purpose built electro optical lab and service centre. The services here now include:

• assembly and pre-delivery testing of equipment
• testing and repairing electro optical equipment
• calibration and certification of equipment, and
• distribution and storage facilities.

End to end product support and continual engagement with the client base is Point Trading’s greatest strength says Mr Bichler, “Our understanding of what it takes to be a Defence supplier - from the products we provide through to the customisation of products through the research and development process means we can integrate the products to meet the requirement of the user, and maintain the service investment requirement to ensure in-country sustainment.”

Point Trading have worked on a diverse range of projects for the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) over the last 16 years. This work has included:

• fleet supply – ECH Under Land 125, CBRNE under various projects
• fleet sustainment and ILS – Project Ninox
• fleet maintenance and refurbishment  - CBR Detectors maintenance under CBRNE , and ECH refurbishment

“We are extremely happy with the current focus Defence and DMO have in terms of partnership with the Defence Industry. The focus of DMO in providing an open dialogue with industry has in our opinion done much to provide industry with the ability to plan and implement its plans,” says Mr Bichler.

“SMEs are agile by nature, and provided they have the research and development capability, are equipped to provide Defence with solutions, and capabilities. SMEs are also more likely to enhance the skills set of their employees thus increasing the human capital available to the Defence and Industry as a whole.

“The company has an enduring relationship with Defence premised upon our core values, mutual respect and a common goal of providing the very best product possible for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen,” said Mr Bichler.