Congratulations Bill Buckley of BSL Buckley Systems
The 2011 New Zealand Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Bill Buckley, from Buckley Systems Ltd, is the winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award.
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards celebrate entrepreneurs through regional, national and global awards programmes in more than 140 cities in 50 countries. The awards encourage entrepreneurial activity and recognise people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards Director Jon Hooper congratulated all finalists.
“This year’s finalists are inspirational in the way they have managed the downturn and for the passion with which they have pursued opportunities,” says Hooper. “Entrepreneurs operate in the same economic environment as everyone else and yet they continue to innovate and prosper. They create new business models and they create jobs. There’s something to be learned in that and something to celebrate,” says Hooper.
“In June next year Bill Buckley will represent New Zealand in Monte Carlo, competing alongside the world’s best entrepreneurs. That will be an incredibly exciting and rewarding networking experience that presents game-changing business opportunities," says Hooper.
Bill Buckley, BSL - Buckley Systems Ltd
'Magnetic attraction'
There are widgets…and then there are SERIOUS widgets. Bill Buckley’s version is most definitely in category 2. His company BSL - Buckley Systems Ltd is the undisputed global leader in the manufacture and supply of precision electromagnets to 90% of the world’s ion implant industry.
Rather than rushing to the nearest physics or IT primer, here’s a brief summation of what the business is all about. In the hierarchy of those involved in producing silicon chips—an essential component to any high technology undertaking or applications in fields ranging from medical to security—there are a number of tiers and players. There are only around 10 companies in the world producing silicon chip ‘capital’. Most are brands that operate under the radar—such as Varian, Nissin or Axcelis. In contrast their clients—IBM, Intel, Sony and NEC—are household names.
Without Buckley Systems there would be no magnetism to the mix. Between 80 to 90 percent of all electromagnets and ion beam hardware supplied by the middle tier providers to the big name brands come from Bill Buckley’s Auckland-based company. Everything produced is exported to clients in the United States, Britain, Europe, Japan and other Asian destinations.
Those market share figures are unlikely to deviate dramatically for two reasons. One being the high quality and reputation of the company’s products; the other is IP and related knowledge accumulated that would make it a super sized challenge for anyone else trying to replicate the offering.
Says Bill: “For anyone to be serious opposition to me would cost them a lot of money. What I can do for $1 million would cost them $10 million.”
Despite the current positive nature of the enterprise, business hasn’t always been rosy for Bill. The 1978-launched Buckley Engineering encountered some serious glitches Bill had to divest majority shareholding to stay afloat. In 1986 he launched Buckley Systems and, in the same year, capitalised on the IT boom in Silicon Valley becoming a major supplier to American factories.
From there it was upwards. His approach to success is put this way.
“It’s no good doing what anyone can do. You have to go after the stuff that’s too complicated for the average engineer so you can be ‘Johnny on the spot’ when the demand hits.”
