ABERDEEN company Equalizer International has won the Scottish regional award for achievement in international business in the British Chamber of Commerce Awards 2008.
The company, which specialises in flange alignment and spreading tools for pipeline construction and maintenance work, was recognised for its success in developing an extensive international customer base.
Equalizer, a member of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, will now go through to the national judging and the chance to win the Royal Bank of Scotland-sponsored top prize of £50,000.
National winners will be announced in London on Thursday, November 27.
Equalizer was set up in 1994 and is led by managing director Ian McCormick, technical director Bob Stephen and engineering director John Morgan.
Mr McCormick said: “Winning this award is a tremendous accolade for Equalizer International and we feel it is recognition of the practical nature of our product range and the associated safety benefits it brings to the international marketplace.”
Equalizer has won design awards for innovation in Cuba and Canada. The majority of end-users come from the energy sector and about 90% of sales are exported.
In the last five years, the firm has increased its turnover by 350% and its workforce to 13.
Jon Woodwards, international business director at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “In the current climate, many businesses feel they need to just weather the storm.
“They can become risk adverse and inward looking. However, Equalizer International has demonstrated by its fantastic five-year growth the importance of sourcing and developing new markets across the globe.”