A Gloucestershire company that produces factory automation systems has been honoured for its enterprise.

ALS Mechatronic, based at Greet, just outside Winchcombe, was presented with its Grant of Appointment (official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy in recognition of its Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The presentation was made by the Lord-lieutenant Edward Gillespie as representative for the Queen. In attendance was Pete Bungard, chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council and the Rev Canon Paul Williams, a deputy Lord-lieutenant.

ALS Mechatronic is one of 205 organisations nationally, to be honoured with the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2021. It recognises the company's excellence in international trade.

The firm employs 30 people and was set up in 2002. It specialises in the design, build and installation of bespoke factory automation systems, control systems, container handling machinery, vision inspection systems and robotics. Typically it is automating with machinery and software, repeatable labour intensive manufacturing processes.

ALS Mechatronic's Queen's Award recognises it for outstanding short-term growth in international markets, showing steep year on year growth in the last three years with no dips. Overseas sales have grown fivefold in its leading markets of Qatar, Mexico, Ireland, USA, and Poland. The USA is now growing into its most important market, which has culminated in ALS opening its own direct sales offices in Texas.

Andrew Steward, founder and managing director for ALS Mechatronic said: "It is an absolute honour for the whole ALS team to be joined today by the Lord-Lieutenant and his colleagues and to be formally presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise trophy.

"Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, which has created untold damage to many companies, we have managed to maintain support and grow, delivering machinery automation solutions to our international and domestic customer bases, ranging from dairies to pharmaceutical companies. This is important recognition for the whole team and testament to their hard work and dedication, for which I sincerely thank them all for."