Page 92 - Packaging News Magazine Nov-Dec2020

92 PROFILE | PKN 60 YEARS SPECIAL
Matthews Australasia
Matthews Australasia was formed nearly 40 years ago. Its founder and sole employee at the time, Lester Nichol, had a steely focus on sup-
plying best-in-class technology to Australian manufacturers backed up by excellent technical service. Today, the company has more than 100 employees with the same determined focus on excellent technology and technical service.
These days the company is better known by its tag line, Matthews Intelligent Identification, because that’s exactly what it does: provides product identification, traceability and inspec- tion equipment, technology and services.
Matthews’ emphasis on innovations to ben- efit manufacturers drives its business and suc- cess. It’s also behind developments such as the award-winning iDSnet. Walk into any of Matthews’ install sites around Australia and it’s clear it does far more than just sell “boxes”. Matthews’ works with its customers, helping them to build sustainable and efficient busi- nesses by improving their traceability and inspection obligations. In other words, it helps the “makers and movers” of Australian manu- facturing to better do what they do.
Three years before establishing Matthews Australasia in 1981, Lester Nichol was part of founding the Australian Product Numbering Association (APNA) – the forebear of GS1 Australia. Lester’s knowledge of the barcode’s value has resulted in Matthews driving several firsts in Australian manufacturing. The latest example is its involvement in the data-embed- ded 2D barcodes now being trialled in major supermarket chain Woolworths.
Lester also understood the value of R&D. In 2005, after many years of investment, Matthews released iDSnet, software that rev- olutionised the delivery of product identifica- tion and traceability solutions. iDSnet was awarded “Best New Product” at AUSPACK, with the first substantial export orders coming in 2009. Today, export and domestic sales of the software remain strong.
Matthews developed the newest version, iDSnet Cloud, working closely with Woolworths to ensure compliance to retail coding and label- ling guidelines. This platform will drive benefits for suppliers and retailers by making it easy to ensure the barcodes printed at GTIN and SSCC level meet GS1 and industry retailer guidelines in a simple, yet powerful online tool.
That iDSnet award was one of several for Matthews, including another “Best New
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Founder... Lester Nichol had a steely focus on supplying best-in-class technology to Australian manufacturers backed up by excellent technical service.”
Product” at AUSPACK 2007 for the Solaris fibre YAG laser coder. The two-decade rela- tionship with Solaris has continued, and just recently Matthews released in Australia the latest Solaris laser: the SolarJet, created for high-speed packaging and beverage lines and the fastest laser in the marketplace, opens up new opportunities for laser in difficult high speed and demanding applications.
Innovation and loyalty have remained con- stants in Matthews’ culture, and in July 2017 after 36 years as CEO/MD, Lester Nichol transitioned to the chairman role, with long-term employee Mark Dingley appointed as CEO. Mark, who joined Matthews in 1994, has worked in cus- tomer service, marketing, product management and sales roles in Matthews and was instrumental in developing and introducing iDSnet.
Lester’s impact in product identification in Australia was recognised in 2017 when he was
TOP: Matthews CEO Mark Dingley, chairman Lester Nichol, sales manager Matt Nichol, and supply chain logistics manager Ben Nichol
ABOVE: Matt Nichol at AUSPACK 2007 with the Best New Product award
named the Industry Packaging & Processing Professional Of The Year.
Matthews remains a leader in product iden- tification, traceability, product authentication, and inspection. Alongside Mark, who is also Chairman of the APPMA and involved with GS1 Australia, are two of Lester’s three children. Ben and Matt Nichol occupy leader- ship roles in the business, including on the company’s Advisory Board.
From everyone at Matthews, congratula- tions to PKN for achieving 60 years of reporting on this dynamic industry.
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