THE PRINCESS Royal visited Bromsgrove’s Excool to present The Queen’s Award for International Trade and to open the company’s new Excool Zero Factory.
The company creates and manufactures cooling systems for data centres across the world.
Picture by Dan Barker from danbarkerstudios.co.ukAs well as providing equipment to UK companies, it also exports to Europe, the Middle East and the US, where it has recently opened up its first overseas factory in South Carolina.
During her visit, Princess Anne was given a tour of the site on the Corbett Business Park in Stoke Prior.
Picture by Dan Barker from danbarkerstudios.co.ukShe met and spoke to staff who talked her through the manufacturing process.
Excool employs 150 people in Bromsgrove, its units can now be found around the world and further expansion is at the centre of the business with more expected in the forseeable future.
An Excool spokesperson said: “It is a great honour for Excool to receive The Queens Award and is a result of the hard work and dedication of our team since 2010.
“CEO Duncan Williams’ continual forward thinking ensures the most efficient data centre cooling is manufactured.
“Research and development is one of Excool most important departments and hours are often spent in the lab.
“The factory team did a fantastic job clearly explaining how the Excool Zero units are manufactured starting with refrigeration to the electrical, mechanical, casework and finally quality control.”
Picture by Dan Barker from danbarkerstudios.co.ukOnce the factory tour was complete The Princess Royal handed The Queens Award to Honorary Excool Chairman Mark Collins and revealed the plaque for the Excool Zero factory.
Picture by Dan Barker from danbarkerstudios.co.ukIn a speech, HRH The Princess Royal said: “It’s always a pleasure to give out The Queen’s Award personally.
“Companies like yours already have a great reputation and hopefully this will help enhance it further.”
She congratulated Excool and its staff and wished everybody the best for the future.
The Lord Lieutenant for Worcestershire, Col Patrick Holcroft CVO OBE CStJ, said:
“The award was shaped by the Duke of Edinburgh to promote business excellence, international trade and sustainable development.
“To win it is a great feather in the cap for the management team and a tribute to all staff who have played a key role in the company’s development.”
It was the fastest growth in international trade which impressed the judges in London and overseas sales now bring in the majority of Excool’s revenue.
Picture by Dan Barker from danbarkerstudios.co.ukAmong the other special guests on the day were Bromsgrove District Council’s Chief Executive Kevin Dicks, leader Coun Karen May and chairman Coun Rod Laight.
Visit excool.com for more on the business and its products.
