Eight businesses from the Bristol area ranging from a two-person operation making a drink dispenser that reduces dehydration, to a global engineering group employing nearly 2,000 staff, have gained prestigious Queen’s Awards for their outstanding achievements in international trade, innovation and sustainable development.
Espiner Medical, based in Clevedon, employs nine staff making tissue retrieval systems used in keyhole surgery. Set up in 1994 by Harry Espiner and James Howard and a first time Queen’s Award winner, it has increased overseas sales by a staggering 1,517% over the past six years. It is main export markets are Germany, Spain, Austria, Canada and Australia. The firm has doubled manufacturing space in anticipation of increased exports, including to the US, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Poland. It is also targeting Brazil, China and Japan. It works closely with surgeons and other medical professionals to identify new product needs.
Highbridge firm Jo Bird & Co was set up in 1986 to manufacture specialist cabinets to protect fire safety and live-saving equipment. Another first-time winner, its overseas sales have increased by 141% over past three years. The firm, which employs 20 staff, has undertaken a thorough review of all its operations from product design to manufacturing and in doing so has identified new markets. It has also exceeded its own sales targets. It has targeted specific markets and enjoyed success in Italy and Singapore which account for the majority of sales. It has also achieved sales in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Metryx, based in Aztec West, employs 13 people. Formed 13 years ago it sells hi-tech equipment for monitoring semiconductor manufacturing. The firm exports 100% of sales to a compact but quite complex market. Export sales have grown by 240% over past three years with plans in place for continued growth into the Far East. It won a Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2008 and has subsequently turned its innovation into a commercial success through exporting.
Hydrate for Health, which employs just two people, won an Innovation Award for developing and distributing a unique hands-free drinking system called The Hydrant which reduces dehydration in hospital patients, care home residents and people being cared for in their own homes. The innovative personal drinking systems enable the user to maintain their own level of hydration with little assistance from others. The device was developed as a result of personal experience by founder owner Mark Moran, who was bed-bound after a serious operation. Mark has more than 20 years of senior management, sales, marketing, international freight and logistics in various parts of the world including for multinationals such as Procter and Gamble, Olympus Cameras, DHL, TNT and the Ford Motor Company.
Limbs & Things also gains an award for innovation for its development of physical models that help medical and healthcare professionals with hands-on teaching. These anatomically accurate models include pumps and controls that simulate the movement of fluids in the body. The commercially-successful innovation has reduced patient risk and increased standards in the healthcare profession.
Renishaw, the Wotton-under-Edge-based engineering technologies company, received its 16th Queen’s Award since its launch in 1973 – its seventh in the past 10 years. This year the award is for innovation for its revolutionary REVO five-axis multi-sensor probing system used on co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs) to significantly improve accuracy and throughput when inspecting complex parts including aero-engine blades, automotive cylinder blocks and many types of gears.
Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw’s chairman and chief executive, said, “REVO is one of the most technically complex products that we have ever developed and it has been a game changer for the measurement sector.”
Other Innovation Award winners were Simulation Systems based in Yatton and Track Analysis Systems of Shirehampton.
Simulation Systems, which employs 122 people, won the award for developing a range of closed-circuit TV cameras and associated control systems used for surveillance in complex environments such as traffic interchanges or large sports venues. Its flagship camera can produce high-quality images, day and night, at a distance of up to 15 miles while the firm’s image-clarifying system can identify faces from up to two miles away.
Track Analysis Systems wins an Innovation Award for developing world-leading products which measure low levels of neutron and radon radiation. The firm employs seven people.
The Queen’s Awards for International Trade recognises in overseas earnings by UK businesses. Winners can expect to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace, and can use the Queen’s Award emblem as a symbol of their quality and success for a period of five years.
