Manchester-based M&I Materials Limited has won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2009 by achieving substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success.

The company increased export sales by 228% between 2002 and 2008, which accounted for 72% of total sales. In April 2009, the company made sales of £19.6m, a 28% increase from the previous year.

Colin Salt, Chairman of M&I Materials, who led the 1993 buyout from GEC Alsthom, commented: “Winning the Queen’s Award for International Trade is testament to the excellent work of the whole team in building the business to operate effectively across an international stage.”

M&I Materials employs 112 staff in the North West to provide specialist materials for industry and science. Products at the centre of this exporting success include Midel® and Wolfmet®. Midel is an environmentally friendly fluid used to improve fire safety and performance of transformers in buildings, trains and wind turbines. Wolfmet tungsten alloy is a high density metal used in aerospace, in the treatment of cancer to shield against radiation, and in Formula 1, to help cars achieve a lower centre of gravity.

Thriving brands Apiezon® and Metrosil® have also been instrumental in M&I’s achievement. Apiezon high vacuum lubricants are used by organisations such as NASA and British Aerospace. Metrosil high voltage surge protection devices have been specified for some of the most prestigious power plant projects.

Giles Salt, Managing Director of M&I Materials, believes that in addition to high quality products, M&I’s competitive advantage is the exceptional standard of customer support. He said: “At M&I Materials we work in partnership with our customers, across a range of languages and continents, to understand their needs and provide effective solutions”.

M&I Materials currently ships to 55 countries and this year is hoping to expand on its success. To support growth in export markets the company has committed to developing the Manchester factory.

The investment will substantially increase manufacturing capacity and create long term employment opportunities for the local community.