Some recent projects
WineTech Accelerator
With support from industry and government, we led the development of Foment the world’s first WineTech Accelerator to increase tech development and adoption in Australian wine. 25 companies have graduated from the program.
CSIRO & Atal Innovation Mission’s India+Australia Rise Accelerator
Through this program we have been supporting companies develop global market entry and coaching them through a range of sales and marketing models including DTC, B2B, B2G, agency, and distribution models, preparing and evaluating their sales tactics, and effectively targeting prospects.
Start-ups and Accelerators
Mentors in the Innovative Manufacturing Accelerator Program in South Australia
Lead and coached in the AgTech manufacturing initiative in South Australia
Education program and coaches in the CSIRO RISE circular economy Accelerator
Co-founded and lead FOMENT, the world’s first global WineTech Accelerator
Mentoring in US Accelerators Conduit ACCEL and MASS Challenge
Through these we have worked with manufacturers in sectors including robotics/AI, fabric, dye, micro-mobility, sensor/AI, fermentation, machinery, and exotic metals.
For FoodSA, in partnership with the University of Adelaide, we developed AskSASI.com.au an LLM/ ChatGPT based tool for identifying environmental requirements in Australian export markets. It uses a series of questions to fill out a Large Language Model enquiry and provides natural language answers to users telling them whether their existing accreditations can be used in export markets or what environmental accreditations are most suitable for their target market.
For Australian Grape and Wine, we developed the USAWineMarketTool.com to help wine exporters identify opportunities in the USA market for selling wine and help them understand the complex 3-tier distribution system. In addition to information about the demographics of counties, it helps identify the legal constraints in the US by state and has three databases of wine retailers and wine bars that users can use to understand the state market structures and opportunities.
We undertook the inaugural South Australian grains sector environmental survey and Environmental Sustainability Report in 2022 and again in 2023. These reports aim to better understand South Australia grain producer attitudes to sustainability, their credentials, and to develop sustainability benchmarks.
Mobishear wireless shearing
We mentored Mobishear in the SA AgTech Accelerator and went on to support them to prepare successful grant applications, helped with business structuring, and supporting the development of new chipsets. We are currently supporting them through product development.
Foildrive are an exciting manufacturer of marine mobility for the exploding sport of foil boarding. After meeting them on the beach, we have worked with them on structuring for R&D tax incentives, export market grants, innovation grants, manufacturing grants, and business growth .
For Amaero (ASX:3DA), we developed a site layout for their Titanium and Super Alloys Atomisation facility in Australia, Abu Dhabi (UAE) and in the USA. The site layouts and designs enabled Amaero to purchase a new site, commit to the range of facility requirements catering for people/ process/ production/ product, equipment required with the knowledge that they would fit the site, the building and achieve effective product flow throughout the site
For Australian Vintage (ASX: AVG), we managed site inspection, specification, procurement, factory acceptance testing, installation and commissioning of a new $13m+ wine packaging line at Australian Vintage in Merbein (Victoria, Australia). Factory Acceptance was undertaken in Italy prior to shipping to Australia. As a result of the thorough pre-delivery work, the commissioning of the line was very significantly simplified.
Hydra Consulting developed the South Australian Spirit Producers Association (SASPA) industry blueprint. The blueprint was developed to fill in critical data gaps and facilitate the forward planning of the industry, with three key priorities: to support sustainable growth, to stimulate market development, and strengthen the industry operating environment. We were engaged to undertake industry research, sector analysis, stakeholder engagement, generate content, and manage the project.
For Wines of Western Australia and the Western Australian Government, we run the WA Wines to the World program which includes: Management of the $5m+ program, inbound and outbound activations, media, industry support packages, capability development, detailed market analysis of target markets, annual and 5-year strategy.
For the Marleston site gluten free savoury product (Jatz, Savoy, BBQ Shapes) expansions, Hydra oversaw the refit of the factory infrastructure from a complete strip down of the existing brownfield section of the factory, including structural, utilities (above and below ground), mechanical fit out, electrical fit out, factory Acceptance Testing for inbound equipment, commissioning, handover, and post-commissioning. This included the separation of the gluten side of the site from the gluten free so that 0% gluten contamination standards can be achieved.
We also undertook the design and construction of the new gluten free seasoning clean room (second process), including site consultation, mechanical, electrical, services, specialised extraction systems, and waste recovery.
For Wine Australia, we initially undertook a review of capability building gaps and opportunities from which we identified a need for full capability program for the wine sector and the opportunity in the wine tourism sector to adapt and ‘winify’ existing materials.
We developed and delivered Growing WIne Exports a highly regarded program of practical tools and workshops delivered to over 600 wineries in 3-years to support export growth. “Professionally executed program that provided the tools needed to successfully enter new markets…Thank you.” Participant, Growing Wine Exports.
We co-developed and co-delivered with the Australian Tourism Export Council, this highly practical export capability program that won a Wine Impact Award in 2019 for its significant contribution to the wine industry. "Richard and Darren were brilliant, engaging and extremely knowledgeable. I hope we cross paths with them both in the future!!" Adele Agams, Sevenhill Cellars
The Growing Cider Exports program included a range of highly practical and experiential training elements, with the tools and praxis focus that Hydra Consulting is known for. It was re-developed during COVID for Zoom with high-engagement live video delivery, supported by carefully designed learning platform implementation for asynchronous learning.
Selected metals projects
Risk review on $20m plant upgrade at One Steel Whyalla.
Plant-wide process review and efficiency improvements in the production of railroad draft gear for Fletchers Foundry.
Process review for and stock and inventory reduction for Tasman Sinks metal pressing facility.
Upgrading Worsley alumina plant in Colley (WA) to increase production capability from bauxite (brown) to alumina (white).
Implementation of plant-wide automation system in aluminium extrusion (now Capral Aluminium).
Business plan, marketing approach, new product development and implementation support for Ben Wye Engineering.
Agriculture, food, and wine projects
Deliver manufacturing lines for gluten free Arnott’s BBQ Shapes and Jatz/Savoy.
Manage a full bottling line analysis, specification and rebuild for Accolade Wines.
Document plant functional description (receival, processing, storage, packaging to cold storage), design plant wide automation systems, implement upgrade and commission for National Foods at Mile End.
Review of processes and systems to develop a new production and operating model for Hill Smith Family Estates, Angaston.
Winery receival performance assessment and improvement for Brown Brothers in Tamar Ridge.
Full operations and asset review for Brown Brothers Wines in the King Valley.
Design, supply and commission new packaging plant (Tetra) and Yoghurt Filling line for Bulla in Colac.
Milk receival expansions, plant upgrades, and full automated pipe-transport system for Dairy Vale / Pharmalat in Edwardstown.
Undertaking a detailed review of international approaches to minimising inversion spray drift covering education, regulation, communication for Grain Producers South Australia. We are now in the process of implementing Stage 1 of the implementation plan.
Water and Environment projects
Options for reuse, EOI, and negotiations with primary producers to receive water for Southeast Water.
Concept plan and land use options for the Whittlesea Community Farm for Yarra Valley Water’s Aurora Waste Recovery Plant.
Northern Adelaide Plains horticulture value chains
Our value chain study of the Northern Adelaide Plains horticulture industry included sector interviews, reviews of historical supply chain studies, review of supply chain performance and development of a value chain gap analysis.
The outcomes of the value chain study were the identification of key inhibitors to growth in export in the region. We undertook follow-up face to face survey work to build a more detailed picture of regional opportunity and to develop a regional collaborative cluster.
Cluster Capability development
We developed the Major Projects Ready: Business Collaborative Contracting Handbook for the SA Government to support clustering in agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure. We also delivered a range of documents to support cluster management including of MOU templates, document housing and archiving solutions, operating entity structures and governance, cluster charter development, and code of conduct development.