Ten years after inventing a new type of safety goggle in his shed, a Masterton man hopes to take the product global.
Phil Hall says he came up with the idea for Safe Eyes goggles when he couldn't obtain suitable eye protection for 24 forestry employees.
He started working on the product in 2001, taking two or three years to get to the stage where it could be marketed and three more years of research and development to pass a UK standard.
Mr Hall says the patented stainless steel mesh glasses are light, flexible and won't scratch or fog up.
He says they're now used in more than 60 industries throughout New Zealand including forestry, harness racing, waterblasting and mining.
Mr Hall's business, Kiwi Ideas, was on Tuesday named the supreme winner of the business.govt.nz and ANZ Flying Start Business Competition and was awarded a $60,000 prize package.
Mr Hall says the company is already exporting Safe Eyes to the European Union, Canada, South America and Australia and the prize will help it to extend its international reach.
