The DC drives-maker Sprint Electric, the HV motor specialist ATB Morley, and the encoder manufacturer Renishaw are among the 194 organisations – a record number – that have won Queen’s Awards for Enterprise this year.

Arundel-based Sprint, which exports about 75% of its production, has won an Award for International Trade – its first Queen’s Award. “This award is a result of our sustained export growth measured over the last six years,” says Sprint MD, Edwin Prescott (above). “We are planning for further growth and are confident of enjoying continued success over the next six years and beyond.”

Another first-time winner, Austrian-owned ATB Morley, has won an International Trade Award for doubling its exports from £4.1m in 2005 to £8.2m in 2007. The Leeds-based company produces motors primarily for the underground coal mining industry and 80% of its turnover comes ultimately from abroad. Its turnover grew from £9m in 2005 to £16.7m in 2008.

Renishaw, which has won an Award in the Innovation category, is an old hand in the scheme, having won 13 Awards since 1973. The latest accolade is for its OMP400 touch probe for 3D measurement on CNC machine tools, which it claims is the world’s smallest spindle-mounted touch probe with strain gauge sensors. Renishaw earns some 94% of its revenues outside the UK.

Other winners of 2009 International Trade Awards include: Grantham-based BGB Engineering, which makes slipring packages; Llanelli-based Daniels Fans, which produces high-temperature industrial fans; Jarrow-based HVR International, which makes HV resistor discs and assemblies; the Droitwich-based induction furnace specialist, Inductotherm; the Wellingborough market analyst, IMS Research; Exeter-based Mantracourt Electronics, which specialises in electronics for industrial measurement; Banbury-based Norbar Torque Tools; Norwich-based PPI Engineering which supplies large rotating machines; the theatre automation specialist, Stage Technologies; and Telford-based VA Technology, which specialises in advanced manufacturing systems.

Among the 49 recipients of Innovation Awards are: AES Engineering of Rotherham, for its LabTecta bearing seal; Bristol-based Oliver Crispin Robotics, for developing snake-arm robots for applications in confined spaces; Harrogate-based EnviroVent, for its “filterless” energy-saving extractor fan technology; and Nottingham-based West Energy Saving Technologies, for its Ventmiser automatic ventilation controllers.