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From sewage pipes in New Zealand to hybrid buses in Las Vegas... MX2008 celebrates the best of UK business
2
July
2008
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Wrightbus Wins MX2008 Scooping Hat-Trick of Oscars
Ireland’s global transport firm wins a hat-trick lottery at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2008 (MX2008)
Yorkshire’s family-run Naylor Drainage nets Best SME for its modernising products and taken Barnsley’s best to New Zealand and Morocco.
Family owned business Wrightbus sped into the fast lane at the IMechE’s MX Awards (MX2008) held in London last night (26 June). The transport firm which created the world’s first hybrid public transport bus to hit the streets of Las Vegas and then London, snatched three top business awards at the event held at London’s Dorchester Hotel.
Ballymena-based Wrightbus staved off tough competition from the country’s most eminent manufacturers and business to win Overall Winner as well as Product Innovation and Integrated e-Business. In all 13 prestigious business awards were presented last night and congratulated by Business Minister, Shriti Vadera. She classed manufacturing as the “unsung hero” of the British economy. “UK manufacturing companies are a global success story based on their productivity, innovation and specialist skills. The MX finalists prove the innovation is the key to maintaining their record in a fiercely competitive global market,” she said.
Wrightbus is a renowned global brand in innovative green public transport, specialising in hybrid diesel-electric buses and currently developing hydrogen transport solutions. David Barnett, Mechanical Engineer and Wrightbus Project Manager comments: "We are absolutely delighted to have won. This is a real victory for us, the engineers and the entire company. Wrightbus has recognised the potential for hybrid electrical public transport vehicles for more than a decade. Our extensive engineering expertise and knowledge of hybrid and electric transport along with our innovative approach has allowed us to be world leaders in this exciting field. Winning MX really differentiates us from our competitors and confirms us as a leader in green transport solutions."
Other notable successes of the evening were Barnsley’s Naylor Drainage, which won Best Small to Medium Enterprise. The win for the Yorkshire based family-firm is even more poignant and radically different from its situation a few years ago. The firm specialises in drainage systems as well as making a range of decorative garden pots and now exports to a staggering 49 overseas markets and has trebled its income over 10 years with a record income of £32 million pounds. Edward Naylor, Chief Executive of Naylor Industries says: “Winning an MX Award marks a milestone for the business and is proof to our customers, staff and competitors that we are continuing with the innovation and vision that has led to this success.” Mr Naylor had to leave his City job as a Chartered Accountant to take over the firm in 1993 after his father, Allan, passed away suddenly. The firm’s high-tech clay pipes are currently being adopted by New Zealand tourist town, Rotorua, after its original sewage pipes started melting in the underground heat. Now, several towns in New Zealand are looking to the UK company to solve their sewage problems. Edward said: “We have done amazing things. Barnsley made products are now in Morocco and New Zealand!” |
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