Minister praises achievements in Queen's awards

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds today praised the achievements of three Northern Ireland companies in winning Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the United Kingdom’s leading accolade for business.

Minister Dodds also commended the commitment and leadership of Dr Nicholas O’Shiel, Director and Chief Executive of Omagh Enterprise Company, who gained the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion (Honorary) in the annual awards announced today.

The three successful companies in the export-focused awards are: APT, Belfast, a locally-owned developer of digital audio compression technology; Canyon Europe of Newtownabbey, a Japanese-owned manufacturer of trigger-type sprayers and pump dispensers and Fintec Crushing and Screening, Ballygawley, a manufacturer of mobile crushing and screening equipment, which is now owned by Sweden’s Sandvik group.

Minister Dodds said: “Winning three Queen’s awards for international trade and an individual award for Dr O’Shiel demonstrates the increasing success of Northern Ireland companies in the global marketplace.

“The individual award to Dr O’Shiel is fitting recognition of his commitment to business start-up and growth, particularly west of the Bann. It is a further recognition of the important role of enterprise in driving the Northern Ireland economy forward faster.

“The award winning companies are excellent role models for other local businesses seeking to achieve profitable and long-term growth. The accelerated growth needed to strengthen the private sector and create greater wealth across Northern Ireland can only be achieved by a significant increase in export sales of higher added-value manufactured products and expert services.

“It is also significant that each of the three award winning companies is sharply focused on innovation, in terms of products and customer services. This is crucially important because competition is more intense than ever before. The global economy is being reshaped dramatically by new internet technologies and the emergence of the economic power houses of India and China.

“If companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry are to prosper, perhaps even survive, in this very dynamic business environment, they must innovate faster, add value to existing products and services, and bring these as fast as practicable to markets outside Northern Ireland.

“The objective of the Executive and Invest NI is to encourage and assist many more companies to follow the excellent example set by the latest Queen’s Award winners and to seek to achieve success in international markets,” he added.

Originally formed in 1989 as a spin-off organisation from Queen’s University Belfast, APT has grown into a highly successful international export company within the world of professional and consumer audio. From its Belfast-based headquarters, the company develops innovative audio compression technology and products which are sold to blue-chip companies and major broadcasters throughout Europe, Asia and North America.

A previous winner of the Queen’s Award for Exports in 1994, APT’s most recent accolade acknowledges the phenomenal export growth which the company has delivered since its management buyout in 2005.

Canyon Europe, part of Japan’s Canyon Corporation, established a manufacturing operation for trigger sprayers, industrial sprayers and dispensers in 1988. It has pioneered a range of innovative products for customers worldwide and has enjoyed strong growth especially over the past few years.

Established in 2002, Fintec of Ballygawley designs and manufactures mobile crushing and screening machinery for customers in Europe, North America and Asia. It has achieved sales growth of around 300 per cent over the past three years and currently employs more than 300 people at Ballygawley.

Fintec also gained the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2006. The company also achieved Invest NI’s Northern Ireland Exporter of the Year Award, in 2007.

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