Rexroth`s Fife motor plant wins Queens Award

Mannesmann Rexroth`s manufacturing plant in Glenrothes, Fife, has become the only Scottish engineering operation to win a Queens Award for Enterprise. The plant, which designs and produces low-speed, high-torque hydraulic motors, exports around 90% of its output.

The award, which is held until 2005, was in the International Trade category recognising export achievements. Rexroth Scotland`s export earnings have increased by £6m in the past six years. Motors from the plant are used mainly in mobile applications such as forklift trucks, road rollers and forestry equipment. Customers include JCB, Caterpillar and Bobcat.

The manufacturing operation has been based in Glenrothes since 1994 and has boosted its output by more than 250% is the past three years, with revenue more than doubling over this period. In the past 18 months, the number of employees has risen from 215 to more than 300.

Rexroth invested £3m on new equipment for the plant last year and is planning to spend a similar amount this year. "We view this award as a launching point for further sustained growth and commercial success," says the plant`s general manager, Alastair Johnstone.