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Growing into award delight
A Sheffield firm has triumphed at the first national manufacturing awards, hosted by the manufacturers' organisation, the EEF.
Contract manufacturer MTL Group clinched the Business Growth Award at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards in London, which was sponsored by another Sheffield business, healthcare insurance specialist Westfield Health.
MTL beat off contenders from across the country thanks to investments in marketing, machinery and skills which have doubled sales in the last three years and driven exports up by 700 per cent.
And, the company is on track to cap its achievements.
During the last quarter of 2009, the Darnall Road firm was visited by several blue-chip European manufacturers keen to work with it and the company now says the level of overseas enquiries it is receiving is stronger than ever before.
Alan Hall regional director for the EEF in the North East and Yorkshire said: "Too many people have a negative view of manufacturing which is out of date.
"These awards give important recognition to the value that innovative manufacturing businesses contribute to region's economy. MTL's award is well deserved and proof that we have a manufacturing industry we can rightly be proud of."
MTL's managing director, Dr Henry Shirman, put the company's success down to a number of factors, including a 5 million in new machinery, including a robotic press, the implementation of a 'Six Sigma' programme to improve quality and reduce costs, the introduction of NVQ training and apprenticeships and the quality of MTL's people.
"Our people are the face of MTL and it's critical that customers trust their integrity and ability," said Dr Shirman.
"We've also recognised that, sometimes, you just have to 'speak the language'; so we've recruited employees with the language skills of our major customers."
MTL also launched an international marketing programme to raise its profile abroad.
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