The Hamilton Spectator
Business, Thursday, March 28, 2002, p. C01

Business big and small take bows

The Hamilton Spectator

A few Hamilton companies are sporting new hardware this morning -- best in class awards.

They are the winners of Hamilton Chamber of Commerce outstanding business achievement honours.

The winners were named last night at a dinner at Carmen's Banquet Centre.

Ramcor Industries Inc. took home the large-business award (companies with at least 50 employees). Ramcor is the company behind four businesses that make residential window and door products, such as vinyl casement windows and steel doors.

Also nominated in that category were SteelCare, a steel-handling transfer operation, and Kooshies Baby Products.

In the small-business category (fewer than 50 employees), the winner was Custom Industrial Automation. The firm deals with high-tech opportunities to address engineering problems within the broad resource sector. For example, customers would be in the mining, forestry and petrochemical industries.

The two other companies nominated were Affinity Biologicals and The Gryphin Advantage.

The chamber also recognizes a young businessperson (35 or younger) each year. Last night, Joe Bruno Future Stars Sports Photography was named young entrepreneur of the year.

The other nominee was John Savides, a personal home fitness trainer and a champion kick-boxer.

It seems that Rockton Lion Safari and Game Farm has been around forever. That longevity has earned it the Ironman title for commercial achievement of 15 years or more.

More than 500,000 visitors drive or go in buses through the park each year.

The lion safari operation is also home to internationally recognized breeding programs.

Other Ironman nominees were Butty Manufacturing and Gerry's Roofing and Siding-Morley Windows and Doors.

The private company that manages and develops Hamilton airport has been in the news lately, with its $250-million expansion plan. The company, TradePort International Corp., received a special recognition award last night for its contribution, past and future, to the Hamilton economy.

FibreWired, the Hamilton Utilities Corp. unit responsible for miles of fibre-optic wiring in the city, picked up the communications technology award. Other contenders were Fluid Media and NetAccess Systems.

Hamilton has been home to many businesses that have endured for 100 years or more. Last night, two more -- the Childrens' Aid Society of Hamilton and the YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington -- were added.

That makes 38 businesses and organizations that are now on the chamber's century honour roll.

© 2002 The Hamilton Spectator. All rights reserved.

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