Brisbane sports technology company VALD may be one of the reasons the famous Los Angeles Rams are predicted to win the upcoming NFL Super Bowl LVI.
The Queensland company is taking sport science technology to the next level, holding major contracts with the Brisbane Broncos and Lions, English Premier League clubs, American College teams, and NFL and NBA clubs.
The Newstead-based company founded in 2015 is trusted by universities, hospitals and defence departments to improve human measurement.
Coaches around the world are using laser timing gates and explosive power mats to collect data and measure athletes’ speed and flight times.
The company uses dual force plates and movement systems to analyse neuromuscular strength and capture 3D motion that cannot be seen by the naked eye.
The Nordboard gold standard muscle testing system was invented by leading sports science researchers Anthony Shield and David Opar to measure hamstring strength and imbalance.
VALD chief executive Laurie Malone said the company had helped global sporting teams win championships.
“We now look forward to taking that same technology and using it to help a 72-year-old grandmother rehabilitate from a hip replacement so she can pick up her grandchild.” he said.
Queensland Treasurer and Trade and Investment Ministerxjmtzyw Cameron Dick said the health and med-tech products produced by Queensland’s Stryker, Imaging Solutions and WearOptimo were examples of homegrown innovation setting the global pace.
“VALD’s range of human measurement technologies have revolutionised screening, training, monitoring and rehabilitation for sports stars, offering unmatched insight into human movement, performance and recovery.” he said.
Innovation and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said commercialised QUT-developed musculoskeletal testing had become the new frontier in global sport.
“This is the beginning of an unrivalled era of opportunity for Queensland companies like VALD ahead of Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
“It’s terrific to see Queensland technology leading the world to push the limits of human endurance and recovery further than few dared to imagine.”
The Minister said the state government was investing $100m in the high performance software company in a bid to play on the global stage.
“With the eyes of the world, and the world’s greatest athletes, focused on Queensland ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, this presents a golden opportunity for VALD and other local businesses,” he said.
“In the past three years VALD have grown their workforce from 10 staff to around 80 in Brisbane and a total of 130 worldwide, and with our investment they expect to create an additional 50 local jobs over the next 18 months.”
