Michael Brinton (right), Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, was at Malvern Instruments with managing director Paul Walker, to present the 2006 Queen's Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade.

The presentation took place at the company's headquarters on Malvern's Enigma Business Park, following a tour of the manufacturing facility.

Accepting the award, Mr Walker had words of praise for the Malvern Instruments teams around the world.

He said: "This a great achievement and my thanks go to everyone in the company for their hard work and commitment.

The Queen's Award is highly prestigious and reflects our continuing development as a global organisation."

The company is a world leading supplier of analytical instruments that are used to characterise a wide range of different materials.

Previously the company has received the Queen's Award for Technology in 1977, the Queen's Award for Export in 1981 and the Queen's Award for Export and Technology in 1988.

Mr Walker anticipates continued growth.

He said: "Like many companies we are pushing forward in Asia, South America and other rapidly developing economies."