EDM and BDP triumph in NW China export awards

SOARING international sales has earned Manchester flight simulation manufacturer EDM a prestigious award.

The Newton Heath-based company won the UK Trade and Investment China Business Award for the North West after boosting exports to the economic powerhouse from 2% of its total export turnover to 46% between 2008 and 2010 with a value of more than £4.5m.

The engineering company supplies several Chinese airlines with training equipment, as well the Civil Aviation Administration of China. It was announced winner last Friday at a dinner at the Lowry Centre.

EDM has formed a partnership with a business in Xi’an Feibao and is hopeful of winning a contract to design and manufacture a CJ1000 engine mock up for the 2012 Zhuhai Air Show.  Further work for Shandong and Shenzhen airlines is also likely.

Rochdale-based Precision Technologies Group was named runner-up to EDM in the business category.

Philomena Chen, head of Asia Pacific development for UK Trade & Investment North West said: “There was an outstanding level of entries for the North West region, and the winners are the companies who have showed the most evidence of a commitment to the market and who have successfully expanded their business in mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan.  

“The winner, EDM, has shown a consistent commitment to Greater China, and a very well planned and determinedly executed strategy, which has brought great success in a challenging market and sector.”

Clive Drinkwater, regional director for UK Trade & Investment North West, said: “This year’s England’s North West Greater China Awards are a great celebration of those businesses which have done the most to strengthen the links between our two economies.”

Also shortlisted were AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Enterprise Q Ltd, Flint Percussion and Lancaster University.

Architects BDP was named winner of the Greater China Rising Star Award. Manchester-based BDP won its first commission in China in 2009, designing shopping centres in Beijing, Wuxi and Wuhan.

Since then it has developed a long term strategy for growth there and has an office in Shanghai employing 20 staff. In total it has secured 95 separate commissions in China.  

The runner up was Merseyside firm Brock Carmichael Architects, which has seen business in China take off since taking part in the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Finnair, a long term supporter of the awards, was named winner of the China Recognition Award 2012, for making a significant contribution to developing trade links with Greater China.