Fifteen West Midlands firms have received awards honouring trade, innovation and sustainable development.
Companies from Erdington, Walsall, Worcestershire and Warwickshire were among those to win a 2009 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
More than 1,000 UK firms applied for the honour, and less than a fifth were successful. Five West Midlands firms were rewarded for innovation – Kingswinford-based Alcomet, Erdington firm Valor Fires, Coventry-based ScriptSwitch and Alumet Systems and GreenMech based in Warwickshire
A further eight win awards for international trade – Halesowen-based Thompson Friction Welding, Systemcare Products, from Walsall, Telford manufacturer VA Technology, Malvern-based Pulsar Process Measurement, ETL Systems, of Herefordshire, Droitwich firm Inductotherm Europe and JCB’s earthmovers and heavy products businesses, in Staffordshire.
Dudley-based Boss Design, which makes corporate seating, won a sustainable development award for its environmentally friendly operations and furniture.
Alumet’s managing director Gary Summers said he was pleased to win a Queen’s Award for the second time in five years – particularly in a tough financial climate.
He said: “Like many companies, we have had to make cuts but it is important that we continue to project the image of the company and get through the recession. The Queen’s Award will certainly help to raise Alumet’s profile and lift everyone’s morale”.
The award recognised Alumet’s Able Façade System, a wall that can withstand the effects of a bomb-blast, designed to protect the occupants of the building and ultimately to save lives.
Southam-based Alumet have recently completed a £6.2 million Ministry of Defence contract using the new system.
