Trefor Jones presents Alan Blake with the Queen's Award watched by International Transmissions general manager Nigel Harding.

JCB subsidiary International Transmissions Ltd (ITL) received its first Queen's Award for Enterprise last Thursday, recognising its impressive overseas sales growth.

JCB Group manufacturing director Alan Blake says the award is special because it is achieved by a small team.

"Between 2003 and 2005 the 14 employees of International Transmissions helped increase overseas sales of transmissions, axles and engine components by a staggering 134%," Blake says. Exports now represent 80% of ITL's business.

"While today's award is for ITL, it is also a huge honour for everyone at JCB Transmissions. For it's the world-class products made by this company that ITL has made such a success of selling in the global market, including the USA, Canada and the Middle East."

ITL sells transmissions, axles and engine components built by JCB Transmissions to third party OEMs. The transmissions and axles are also fitted to JCB Loadall telehandlers. ITL and JCB Transmissions are based in Abenbury Road, Wrexham.

Trefor Jones, Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, toured the JCB Transmissions factory before presenting the award to Blake at a ceremony in Wrexham watched by hundreds of ITL and JCB Transmissions employees.

JCB's Loadall Business Unit and JCB Compact Products also received Queen's Awards this year. JCB has received 21 Queen's Awards since its first in 1969 (Forkliftaction.com News #328).