Prestigious Manufacturing Export Award

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The Expanded Metal Company Wins Prestigious Manufacturing Export Award

Winners announced in the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2011

The Expanded Metal Company has shown what it’s made of by winning the EEF North East Region Outstanding Export Award, sponsored by UKTI.

The Hartlepool-based business manufactures expanded metal mesh and finished components made from mesh and other materials.

Due to recession in the UK and traditional European markets, The Expanded Metal Company (EMC) sought to expand its international trade. Export and marketing teams worked closely with colleagues in Germany towards the end of 2008 to develop a ‘campaign map’ for overseas growth.

EMCs overseas sales figures makes impressive reading. in 2008 28% of EMCs total turnover. Double-digit growth year-on-year in export saw this figure grow to almost 35% of total sales by the end of 2010, despite the difficult trading conditions at the end of 2008 into 2009. This is predicted to rise again to 40% by the end of 2011.

The annual awards are hosted by EEF, the manufacturers organisation, and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.

Tony Sarginson, EEF North East Membership and External Affairs Manager, said: "Manufacturing is crucial to the North Easts economic recovery. Businesses like The Expanded Metal Company are leading the way by identifying and developing productive routes to overseas markets. Congratulations to them on this well deserved success."

The judging panel, led by Cranfield University, praised The Expanded Metal Companys achievements, stating: "The judges were impressed with the companys story highlighting its reaction to a declining local market by targeting offshore markets. Having exceeded initial targets, EMC, with its clear global aspirations, has the potential to continue flourishing."

David Coppock, UKTI Regional Director, North East, said: "The EEF shares our commitment to promote the benefits of overseas trade to manufacturing firms. I hope these awards show exporting in the North East is alive and well.

There are great opportunities abroad for engineering companies and this well-deserved award shows what the benefits for companies can be. I very much hope other firms in the region follow EMCs example and move into foreign markets."

Andy Foster, Head of Marketing at EMC, prepared the bid document and worked closely with the export team in achieving their targets in recent years; "Our story is not unusual, like many British manufacturers it has been tough for us since 2008. Many tough decisions have been made and there will be more to come. To receive recognition like this is always very pleasing of course and the team in Hartlepool has been working incredibly hard to put our business in a more healthy position. Particular praise should be given to John Mansfield, Claire Lloyd and Michelle Harrety in our Export Team, who have doubled their efforts in striving for more export business."

The Expanded Metal Company will go forward to compete against other regional winners from across the UK in EEFs National Awards final, to take place on 26 January 2012 in London.




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