15 North West manufacturers win Queen’s Awards
1 May 2020
Regional winners of the 2020 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise include some of GC Business Growth Hub’s biggest manufacturing success stories, from plastic packaging to long-life doughnuts.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious accolade for UK business, designed to recognise outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Winners are invited to a Royal reception and can use the Queen’s Awards emblem for five years.
Half of the 30 North West businesses recognised with awards in 2020 are manufacturers or engineering firms, including some of our local success stories.
Alphin Pans, Delph
Precision sheet metal manufacturer Alphin Pans Ltd was recognised in the International Trade category, having established new overseas markets in Ireland, Portugal, Holland, Malta and Slovakia over the last three years.
In 2009 the company made the strategic decision to manufacture its own products in the UK, with approximately 80 per cent of its turnover now from goods manufactured at its site in Delph, near Oldham.
Alphin Pans has worked with our Resource Efficiency service to implement a range of energy efficiency measures in its factory, saving over £8,500 per year.
Simply Doughnuts, Blackburn
Doughnut manufacturer Simply Doughnuts was recognised in the Innovation category for developing a unique, long shelf-life doughnut. Perfected after 18 months of research and years of refinements, the production process is a precise combination of ingredients, mixing sequence, mixing method, temperatures, time and frying.
Simply Doughnuts has previously worked with our Manufacturing Service to implement a lean manufacturing methodology with the support of our Manufacturing Growth Fund, resulting in a £75,000 boost in forecasted sales.
Duo UK, Manchester
Plastic packaging manufacturer Duo UK was also recognised in the Innovation category for developing an innovative new mailing bag with an ‘easy release handle’ that helps e-commerce retailers increase throughput in fulfilment warehouses. The patented ‘DuoOptipac’ product now represents 18 per cent of total company sales.
Like Alphin Pans, Duo UK has worked closely with our Resource Efficiency service to improve its environmental performance.
Other winners
The 12 other manufacturing and engineering winners from the North West, which all won the International Trade award, include:
- Chelsom Ltd, designer and manufacturer of lighting products in Blackpool
- Clark Door, Carlisle-based designer and manufacturer of steel acoustic fire doors
- Euromixers, designer and manufacturer of bespoke industrial fluid mixers in Stockport
- Evans Vanodine International plc, manufacturer of cleaning and hygiene chemicals in Preston
- FPW Axles, Accrington-based designer and manufacturer of steer and drive axles for special purpose vehicles
- Kendal Nutricare, manufacturer and supplier of infant milk and formula in Kendal
- Leyland Trucks, historic manufacturer of large commercial vehicles in Leyland
- Orthoplastics, supplier of semi-finished orthopaedic devices in Bacup
- Premier Tooling Systems, precision engineering specialist in Accrington
- Rock Chemicals, supplier and manufacturer of high quality lubricants and fuels in Warrington
- Slingco, supplier of products for cable and electrical conductors in Whitworth
- Standfast and Barracks, fabric printing specialist in Lancaster.