Three JCB business units have been honoured with Queen's Awards for export achievement.

The units were Loadall, based at Rocester, Staffordshire; JCB Compact Products, of Cheadle, Staffordshire; and JCB Transmissions' sales business unit at Wrexham.

Loadall manufactures 30 models of Loadall-branded rough-terrain telehandlers. A JCB statement said overseas sales for Loadalls rose more than 77 per cent between 2004 and 2006.

JCB Compact Products' overseas sales jumped more than 65 per cent in the same period. The unit manufactures 50 products, including rough-terrain forklifts, mini excavators, the ICX backhoe loader and the robot skid steer range.

International Transmissions Ltd sells transmissions, axles and engine components to third-party customers. Overseas sales for the unit rose 134 per cent between 2003 and 2005.

JCB claims to have received the most Queen's Awards of any UK company, a total of 21 since its first award in 1969.