Colorite Europe, a division of Tekni-Plex Europe, is a Belfast-based supplier of medical polymers to the global healthcare market, has been named among the UK's top exporting businesses at the national Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most coveted business prize recognizing outstanding achievements in the fields of Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development.

The awards are made to companies that can demonstrate substantial growth in overseas earnings and in commercial success. Colorite Europe has been recognized for continuous achievement in international trade over six years.

Ian Kenny, Global Managing Director of Colorite Compounds said: "Winning this award caps off a tremendously successful period of growth for the company. The fact that this award is measured against our performance over six years is particularly pleasing and shows that we have been able to push into new markets and continually meet the demands and expectations of customers."

He continued, "An award of this type would not have been possible but for the dedication, commitment and skill of all the staff here. It's a fitting tribute to all their hard work over the years."

Colorite Europe Ltd is a supplier of state-of-the-art medical polymer compounds to the global healthcare market. Positioned at the forefront of medical material innovation, Colorite's compounds are designed to be converted into disposable devices such as: hemodialysis tubing; blood bags; endotracheal tubes; and oxygen masks.

The past number of years has seen significant growth for Colorite Europe. With its focus on serving markets across the EU and SE Asia, around 93% of the company's total sales have traditionally derived from export activities. The past six years has been a period of significant growth for the company and it now supplies to customers in 33 countries worldwide.

In 2009, the company invested £3 million into its facility at Springbank Industrial Estate as part of a major expansion plan designed to open up new markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Concluding, Mr Kenny said, "We have been operating in Belfast since 1997 and have been able to successfully meet our ambitious sales targets. Over the past decade our focus has been on developing new technologies and introducing our customer base to a new and diverse product portfolio. With R&D very much at the centre of our strategic planning, I trust the next decade will be just as successful for the company."

The Queen's Awards are publicly announced on The Queen's birthday (April 21) and it will be officially presented by the Lord Lieutenant in the near future.

Colorite Europe Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tekni-Plex Europe, a division of the Tekni-Plex Inc. group of companies headquartered in the US.