21 April 2011

Oxford Instruments receives Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade

UK-based etch, deposition and growth system maker Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology (OIPT) has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade for more than doubling its overseas earnings over six years of sustained growth, and exporting more than 90% of its production.

Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology (part of the Oxford Instruments Group) started trading in 1981 and is the world's largest supplier of thin-film plasma etch and deposition equipment to the R&D market, and is also in the top two in several key production applications. This is the 12th Queen’s Award that the Oxford Instruments Group has won.

The firm says that its performance was based on a product range addressing a wide spread of markets combined with an aggressive strategy of developing new markets, primarily in Asia. This resulted in total exports of £139m in six years and the creation of 29 more full-time permanent UK jobs during the period applicable to the Award selection criteria. This growth has continued as demand for equipment has increased, and the firm has recently undergone an expansion and refurbishment programme, investing more than £2.5m ($4m) in its factory near Bristol, UK. This has expanded production capacity by more than 50%, and allowed Oxford instruments Plasma Technology to keep up with the significant growth in business seen in the last 12 months.

The firm has also substantially enlarged its Applications Laboratory by extending the R&D area, and installing an additional Class 1000 cleanroom area where another six tools for process development and running customer samples will be installed. This increase in facility size has boosted staffing to more than 330 worldwide, with many new additions in the front line including process expertise, service and support.

“Our company’s continued growth and success is attributable to our strong workforce, continuous R&D, and our belief in listening to our customers and developing the tools and systems that they want,” comments managing director Andy Matthews. The award recognizes the skill, commitment and dedication of everyone at Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology over a sustained period, he adds.

See related items:

OIPT expansion boosts production capacity by 50%

Tags: OIPT

Visit: www.oxford-instruments.com

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