Ten pharmaceutical firms and suppliers to the industry have received the prestigious Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2009 (www.queensawards.org.uk/business/Winners/2009.html) for their contribution to UK business.
The companies featured among a record 194 recipients of an award across three categories - international trade, innovation and sustainability.
Runcorn-based firm Astech Projects secured an innovation award in recognition of the Xelair series of automated systems designed to perform automated dose content uniformity testing of batch production and r&d respiratory drug delivery devices. Relative to manual methods, the Xelair systems are said to increase throughput, improve safety, reduce solvent usage and increase the quality and volume of test data.
Other winners in this category were Rotherham-based AES Engineering and Tracerco of Billingham, Cleveland.
AES took its award for the LabTecta bearing protector, which replaces lip seals in rotating equipment, while AESSEAL (MCK) of Lisburn, Northern Ireland was recognised for its fully patented Flow Fuse, a state-of-the-art product that significantly reduces the environmental impact and costs associated with water wastage through pump equipment.
AES Group managing director Chris Rea said: "I am absolutely confident that our association with the Queen's Awards has been a key motivator for my work colleagues since 1988 and they have collectively contributed to uninterrupted business success for more than 20 years."
Tracerco, part of the Johnson Matthey Group, took its award for its radiation and contamination monitors.
The other awards were given for outstanding achievement in international trade, with South Wales-based Biotec experiencing exceptional growth over the past year. Following an aggressive marketing strategy, the company secured a number of long-term lucrative contracts with clients in the US, Japan and Israel. As a result, 2008 turnover doubled the 2007 figure, reaching more than £3m. It also reported a 140% increase in export sales; a 152% increase in US sales and more than 100% increase in revenue.
Biotec's managing director, Marc Weinzweig, said: "Biotec invested a great deal of time and money targeting small, medium and large pharmaceutical companies overseas that had an outsourcing requirement for clinical trial supply services or specialist storage of temperature sensitive biopharmaceutical products.
"We have been particularly successful targeting clients in the US, Israel and Japan who wish to conduct clinical trials in the EU but require the services of a Qualified Person to certify that the products are manufactured to EU standards."
In 2008, Cambridge Consultants" exports accounted for more than 70% of business, an achievement based on its reputation for helping clients - from start-ups to blue-chip multinationals - get their products to market fast and gain competitive advantage.
Chief executive Dr Brian Moon said: "Our international trade has increased significantly in recent years. I think it demonstrates that companies requiring innovative product development, wherever in the world they are, will seek out UK excellence. This award is a mark of quality, and reflects the effective work and expertise of our 300 staff."
Pharma and biotech manufacturing services group Excelsyn won its award in the international trade category for a near-trebling of its export earnings, with overseas business now accounting for 82% of sales.
The firm's North Wales facility at Holywell, UK, makes pharmaceutical ingredients and advanced intermediates - and provides process chemical development and manufacturing services for both the global health and personal care industry sectors.
The company reported sales of US$28m last year, more than 40% ahead of the 2007 and is on track for further growth in the current financial year.
Excelsyn president and chief executive Ian Shott said: "With its niche technologies and a highly flexible approach to customer needs, the company has been able to build on growth in demand for both development and manufacturing services by major global players in the pharma and biotech sectors."
The company is part-way through a US$6m investment programme to enhance its Holywell facility, including a new API finishing suite, reactor train alignment and increased product isolation capacity.
GB Innomech, a specialist in advanced automation systems for the pharmaceutical, medical device and environmental sectors took its award on the back of soaring international sales. More than 76% of the company's total sales in 2008 were overseas, an increase of 69% over 2006.
Innomech specialises in automating complex and labour-intensive manufacturing, inspection and testing processes in production plants to improve quality, increase throughput and reduce costs. The company works with multiple technologies but has particular expertise in precision powder handling and dispensing, widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as well as many other sectors. 58% of last year's installations were in the US; Japan is also a major market; and Innomech has recently started installing systems in India and China.
David Beale, managing director, said: "Innomech is a shining example that UK manufacturing and international trade is not as gloomy as many people think. We offer a complete end-to-end service for all our clients but have also invested heavily in the whole area of validation."
SMI-LabHut, based in Maisemore, Gloucester, supplies sampling devices, accessories and consumables for the chromatography and dissolution markets, and has achieved continuous significant growth over six years, generating more than 80% of its sales overseas. The dedicated team implemented a strategy of strong internet marketing together with a flexible and supportive approach to a distributor network resulting in sales in over 90 countries. Managing director Mark Wardle said: "We're honoured to be recognised in this way. Our success is directly attributable to a talented and loyal team who recognised that support and communication was the number one issue for the majority of their customers."
Syne qua non of Diss, Norfolk, a supplier of clinical data management and biostatistical services, said winning its award for international trade was testimony to the dedication, experience and enthusiasm of its team and the company's innovative and flexible approach.
Finally, Pulsar Process Measurement, of Malvern, Worcestershire, took its award for growth in international sales of non-contacting electronic, level and flow measurement instruments. Against a background of difficult trading conditions all over the world, Pulsar has increased export business in percentage terms by 150% in five years, and as a company has grown by more then 20% in the last year alone.
Keith Beard, Pulsar's md, said of the award: 'We're absolutely delighted by this recognition of what Pulsar has achieved. This is a highly competitive and very technical industry. We have a dynamic approach to product development and a global outlook, both of which have kept us ahead of our competitors, and this award is a great accolade for the entire team.'