Katrina Hodgkinson Minister for Small Business with Founder & M.D of Acoustica Philippe Doneux.
A ST MARYS company has broken its silence on inventing a world first for organic sound insulation technology for use in buildings.
Acoustica has started work on QuietWave, the world's first water-based acoustic noise barrier and other natural occurring organic materials.
It's the brainwave of Acoustica founder and managing director Philippe Doneux, whose dream was to create an organic noise barrier that wasn't made of petrochemicals such as oils and PVC, was biodegradable and didn't harm the environment.
"I wanted to create a barrier that would last the life of a building," Mr Doneux said.
"There were 400 million possible formulas, and we've perfected one over the past few months."
The barrier was five years in the making and
the $3 million bill was footed by Mr Doneux.
"It was a real gamble but if you invent something new, you have something that is better than anything else on the market," he said.
The barrier has been certified as fireproof and 4000 tonnes can be produced in six hours.
"It has taken off here in Australia and overseas, including Europe, the US, New Zealand and Japan," Mr Doneux said.
"Invention doesn't stop here. We're always looking to improve."
He founded Acoustica in 1986 and, in 1991, revolutionised the Australian insulation industry with polyester, which didn't have the health and recycling problems associated with then existing products.
Formerly based in Penrith, Acoustica moved to a bigger premises and cheaper rent.
Mr Doneux had this advice for small businesses: "Think carefully about inventing to make your business different from others and better for the environment and you'll always survive," he said.
Small Business Minister Katrina Hodgkinson (pictured with Mr Doneux) was there to help start the first production line last Monday.
"Small businesses such as Acoustica form the backbone of the NSW economy, and with the NSW government's new SmallBiz Connect program now launched, many other small businesses which need a bit of advice will be able to achieve their goals," she said.
"Acoustica is a classic example of the heights NSW small businesses can reach and the NSW government is committed to providing help as needed."