Taking electronics to new frontiers

Salisbury Heights resident Brenton O’Brien is a gadget man who is building his own future
News Review – 22 March 2006

From a boyhood passion for building gadgets from door bells to Morse code communicators, Brenton O’Brien has grown into a remarkable electronic inventor and entrepreneur.

The Salisbury Heights innovator is the man behind the amazing Microbric, an electronic construction set based upon the construction style of both Lego and Meccano.

Microbric is a real turn-on for the thousands of technology tinkerers who enjoy building complex customised electronic devices with little or no prior electronics knowledge.

The construction set is more than a new age toy. It is a patented electronic connection system that makes the necessary electrical connections without soldering while holding the assembly together in a robust manner.

Based at Technology Park and growing by the minute, Brenton’s business – Microbric Pty Ltd – is also thriving on the success of build-for-fun robots that snap or screw together and respond to remote commands.

It has been quite a journey for the former Brahma Lodge Primary and Salisbury East High School student, who raced into a TAFE course on electronic servicing when he completed Year 12.

“I was always interested in electronics as a hobby,” Brenton said. “As a ten year old I was building my own electronic kits.”

While enjoying his work and repairing everything from televisions to videos, Brenton also worked for Dick Smith Electronics in the service and retail areas.

“Over a number of years, many customers would come in saying they’d like to build electronic kits, but they struggled with component identification and soldering skills,” he said.

“I started thinking about how I could make an electronic kit that could be built like Lego and Meccano without soldering.”

“The idea became a passion in which I invested many thousands of dollars. Finally, I had a complex microcontroller which I presented to a group of electronics retailers  who were so impressed the agreed to stock it in their stores.”

“I got all the patent arrangements in place and Microbric, along with its robotic offshoots, have been selling like hot cakes.”

Brenton, 31, has received support and encouragement from the Salisbury Business and Export Centre, TAFE and the electronics industry.

Since basing himself at Technology Park Adelaide, Brenton has been planning and implementing sales expansion into national markets.

“I have grown up in this area and it is very pleasing to be able to base and build my business locally,” Brenton said.

“We have some exciting plans for the future and hopefully they will allow me to expand the business and further promote this region as the electronics hub of Australia.”

Business Assistance Available-
Brenton O’Brien’s business has received support from the Salisbury Business and Export Centre (SBEC), an association between the City of Salisbury and the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

The Centre, which encourages and facilitates the sustainable growth of local business within the Salisbury region, assisted Microbric with business planning and guidance advice.

For more information about how the SBEC can help your business, contact the centre on 8260 8205, email sbec@salisbury.sa.gov.au or visit www.salisbury.sa.gov.au