Fulcrum Suspensions has surpassed the giants of the automotive aftermarket industry to be awarded the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association's (AAAA) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing. This prestigious award was presented to the Queensland based company during the 2007 AAAA Trade Show, the industry's major bi-annual showcase of products and services held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from June 21 to 23.

Fulcrum Suspensions was selected as a finalist in the $10 million and above turnover category, placing this relatively small Australian company against the big spending and marketing savvy powerhouses of the replacement suspension and undercar sector. The company's selection as the AAAA Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing winner is a great achievement by the company established by founder and Managing Director Graham Scudamore-Smith in 1976 from humble workshop based beginnings.

According to Fulcrum Suspensions Managing Director Graham Scudamore-Smith, it has been an incredible experience to see the business that he started by doing wheel alignments in a Brisbane workshop back in 1976 become a major automotive aftermarket industry player. "I am very proud of this award as it recognises the hard work that has gone into making this business what it is today. It rewards the commitment of the deserving group of people who make up my team at Fulcrum Suspensions. The whole thing starts from the back room and extends all the way to the customer facing part of the business - everyone has had a part to play in gaining this major industry recognition. When I look at the competition that we were up against for this AAAA award - every single company was much bigger than ours - huge companies of which I am aware of the figures involved, I am especially proud. We have won awards before in the under $10 million turnover category but to be the "baby" in the candidates for the industry's major marketing award and to have won it is a major achievement for all of us," Mr Scudamore-Smith said.

The AAAA Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing judging criteria was extensive, with independent experts from inside and outside of the automotive aftermarket industry analysing the strategy, deployment and value of marketing expenditure as presented by all of the candidates. Fulcrum Suspensions was presented as the outright winner with national shock absorber retailer Pedders Suspension taking the Silver award and RSP Australia being presented with the Bronze accolade. Several other multi-national companies presented submissions for this prestigious award.

Fulcrum Suspensions is a multi-faceted business that services Australia's diverse and constantly evolving automotive aftermarket through supplying premier quality ride control steering and suspension products, and the complete manufacturing of suspension components.

The 2007 AAAA Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing was Fulcrum Suspensions'8th AAAA award since 2003. The company won the AAAA Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing - Small Business Category in 2005, along with a number of export and manufacturing awards.

No matter how the company continues to grow and the number of accolades that it receives along the way, Graham Scudamore-Smith's workshop based philosophy of listening to the customer to deliver the suspension solution required still applies at Fulcrum Suspensions today. The company has invested significantly in research and development to create specialised individual solutions and will continue to listen to their suppliers and customers to ensure that Australian motorists ride on the safest and best performing suspension components possible.