Birmingham software developers Delcam is celebrating a hat- trick of Queen's Awards after being recognised for its export success.

The firm, which employs 200 people at its base in Small Heath, was awarded the Queen's Award for international trade yesterday.

The recognition, for doubling the value of its exports to £15.8 million in the last six years, follows Queen's Awards for innovation in 2003 and 2004.

The presentation was made on the Queen's behalf by Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Colonel Patrick Robinson.

Delcam, which makes cad-cam software for the manufacturing industry, now exports its products to 80 countries around the world.

Exports make up nearly 75 per cent of the company's business, and are growing.

Hugh Humphreys, managing director of Delcam, said: "Our development staff work extremely hard to overcome the technical challenges they meet when helping our customers to automate their processes, increase their productivity and improve their quality.

"Similarly, our sales and marketing personnel are constantly travelling around the world to increase our exports, often spending weeks at a time away from their homes and families."