Governor Bentley Recognizes Alabama Companies for Excellence in International Trade

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday presented the Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards to eight Alabama companies that are excelling in international trade.

“Alabama exports are an engine for the state’s growth and job creation, and the companies recognized today show how successful Alabama products are reaching the global marketplace,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “In 2014 Alabama exports total $19.5 billion, which represents a 1.2% increase since 2013. The Export Alabama Alliance is connecting Alabama companies with exciting new opportunities, and that’s good business for this state.”

Last year, Alabama companies shipped products from different industry sectors to nearly 200 countries worldwide. The top five export markets for Alabama companies included: Canada, China, Germany, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

The recipients of the 2015 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards are:

Applied Chemical Technology, Inc. The Florence based company has worked with international clients to develop new equipment designs and processes, and is known worldwide for expertise and craftsmanship.
Drummond Company, Inc. The Vestavia based company is the largest producer of foundry coke for the U.S. casting industry.
Gulf Trading LLC The Mobile based company specializes in lumber products, including softwood lumber, plywood, North American hardwood lumber, doors, tropical hardwoods, hardboard and other building materials.
Knox Kershaw Inc. The Montgomery based company is a manufacturer of railway maintenance equipment.
Masada Resource Group, LLC The Birmingham based company is one of the leading U.S. exporters of waste-to-energy technologies, which converts plastic and rubber portions of the waste stream into diesel fuel.
Prism Systems, Inc. The Mobile based company specializes in engineering services which includes systems integration and software development for Fortune 500 manufacturing companies worldwide.
Schwarze Industries, Inc. The Huntsville based company offers one of the most comprehensive sweeper lines in the industry, including models for parking area cleaning, industrial sweeping, mall and shopping center sweeping, street sweeping and storm water runoff management.
SEPCO The Alabaster based company designs, manufactures and distributes mechanical sealing devices for industrial pumps, valves and other rotating equipment found in all industrial processing industries.

“Exporting has proved to be a smart move for many Alabama companies, enabling them to reach new customers in overseas markets while expanding their operations back at home,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said. “More of our companies should explore the opportunities they can discover through international trade.”

The Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards Program was established in 2005 to recognize Alabama manufacturers and service companies for excelling in international trade. The objectives of this program include identifying Alabama’s successful exporters, promoting exporters as role models to the Alabama business community and increasing awareness of the impact of exporting on Alabama’s economy.

The awards program is coordinated by the Alabama Department of Commerce and the Export Alabama Alliance. The program recognizes small, medium, and large businesses, including new-to-export companies located throughout the state.

Photos from the event can be found here.