Orca Technologies, a subsidiary of JSE-listed Computer Configurations Holdings, has received a R900 000 grant from the Industrial Development Corporation`s Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) to upgrade its Orca mass storage device for the international original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market. Orca Technologies managing director Bill de Beer says the company decided to apply for the grant after they learned that the SPII was interested in fostering the development of small industries, in addition to larger organisations. When the Orca range of RAID Disk Arrays was launched in 1997, it made history in that it was the first South African designed and manufactured disk array to come to market. "After the Orca version 4.1 was launched into South African market in September last year, we decided to apply for the grant to upgrade it for export purposes, in particular to meet the European CE specification requirements. We are nearing completion on the Orca version 5.1, and are in the process of opening up lines of export in the international market." Darryl Aberdein, deputy general manager of Technology Development at the IDC, says Orca Technologies` application qualified for the SPII grant on individual merit. "The grant is designed to promote technology developments in manufacturing industries though support for innovation of competitive products and/or processes," he says. "The SPII assistance is in the form of a grant of 50% of the actual direct cost incurred in pre-competitive development activity up to a maximum grant amount of R1,5 million per project. Payments for approved projects are made on achievement of predetermined milestones and against acceptable proof of expenditure." Aberdein says that one of the conditions of the grant is that ownership and use of the technology should remain with the company or within South Africa for a minimum period of three years. The Orca systems recently earned Raid Advisory Board (RAB) certification for its Raid array systems. Apart from a valid point of reference and international respectability, certification gives ORCA access to statutory bodies that define and update evolving SCSI and Raid definitions for the industry. It puts the company in a position to anticipate future developments. "Orca now possesses both the credibility and the funding to help it become a leading player in the international market," says CCH Chairman, Mario Pinheiro. "For the Group the Raid certification and the IDC grant are proof that we possess the design and development skills, as well as a commitment to quality which results in a home-grown, world-class product."
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