FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 22, 2008

Massachusetts Alliance for International Business Honors Commonwealth Companies’ International Trade Leadership

2008 award-winners include Aspect Medical Systems of Norwood, Fabrico Inc. of Oxford
and Hardigg Industries of South Deerfield

Boston, Mass. – The Massachusetts Alliance for International Business (MAIB), an affiliate of Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), announced today its 2008 International Trade Achievement Award honorees. The awards, in their 13th year, recognize Massachusetts firms, institutions, public agencies or individuals who have demonstrated creativity and leadership in their international trade-related activities – fueling their success as well as contributing to the statewide economy.

“Massachusetts companies have increased exports significantly in recent years, reaching more diverse markets with products and services that represent an impressive range of industries,” commented Martin Walter, Chairman of the Board for MAIB. “This year’s award-winners are truly global thinkers and have demonstrated their commitment to increasing their international business with a variety of approaches – initiating a new export management system (Aspect Medical Systems), opening a new European facility to speed distribution (Hardigg Industries), and formulating a new overseas partnership to expand their manufacturing capabilities (Fabrico). There is much to be learned from these companies’ success.”

MAIB honored the following companies at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ (AIM) annual meeting on Friday, May 9.

GLOBAL AWARD: ASPECT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, NORWOOD
Aspect Medical Systems is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and distribution of the BIS® brain-monitoring system, which enables clinicians to assess and manage a patient’s level of consciousness in the operating room and administer the precise amount of anesthesia needed. All of Aspect’s products are manufactured in a new facility in Norwood. Aspect’s BIS® technology is available in more than 160 countries worldwide and has been used to assess approximately 26 million patients. The company’s 2007 international revenue increased 18% over 2006.

AMBASSADOR’S AWARD: FABRICO INC., OXFORD
Fabrico manufactures precision components from expensive alloys. These components are used wherever there is high heat or corrosive material, in industries that include aerospace, computer, chemical, food processing, marine, medical and semiconductor manufacturing. Most of Fabrico’s components are found in large, land-based gas turbines that generate clean electricity around the globe. Fabrico recently formed a joint venture with a Singapore-based company to service the growing solar cell manufacturing market. Nearly half of Fabrico’s annual sales are from exports. In the past two years, Fabrico’s revenues have increased nearly 40%, with much of the increase attributable to export growth.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD: HARDIGG INDUSTRIES, SOUTH DEERFIELD
Hardigg Industries manufactures rotationally and injection-molded rugged containers for transporting sensitive equipment. With over 500 employees in South Deerfield, Hardigg the company has been exporting for nearly 40 years. Hardigg’s export customers are in the aerospace, defense and industrial sectors, and NATO members are major clients. The company has set up distribution and sales facilities in France, the UK and Canada and developed a proprietary system to save on international shipping costs. Hardigg sells its products in 74 countries, and exporting is one of its top five core strategies. Hardigg’s international revenue grew more than 50% from 2006 to 2007.

Since 1996, more than 50 Massachusetts companies, ranging from firms that are household names such as Raytheon and State Street, to smaller firms including Health Enterprises of North Attleboro, Heinrich Ceramic Decal of Worcester, and BTU International of Billerica, have been recognized by the MAIB International Trade Achievement awards. In addition, nonprofit organizations such as the University of Massachusetts-Boston and the Massachusetts Export Center have also been recognized for their contributions.

About Massachusetts Alliance for International Business (MAIB)
The Massachusetts Alliance for International Business was created by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) to help Massachusetts businesses identify and profit from opportunities in the global economy. Through seminars, referrals, on-line news bulletins and export trend reports, MAIB provides companies with the resources they need for successful international trade. For further information about MAIB and the International Trade Achievement Awards, visit www.aimnet.org/maib.

About Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)
Established in 1915, Associated Industries of Massachusetts is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan association of Massachusetts employers. With 7,000 member companies employing 680,000 people in Mass., AIM’s mission is to promote the well-being and prosperity of the Commonwealth by improving the State’s economic climate, proactively advocating fair and equitable public policy and providing relevant, reliable information and excellent services. For further information about Associated Industries of Massachusetts, visit www.aimnet.org.

BACKGROUND on INTERNATIONAL TRADE AWARDS

Eligibility
Any company, organization, educational institution, individual, or government agency in Massachusetts that has demonstrated creativity and leadership in international trade may be nominated.

Award Criteria for Nominees
• Increased or retained jobs in Massachusetts by entering new international markets
• Demonstrated new or creative solutions to the challenges of exporting
• Produced or adapted a product line or service for a foreign market
• Established alliances or partnerships to increase international trade
• Invested in infrastructure or manufacturing in the Commonwealth to enhance trade

Benefits for Award Winners
• Recognition and Award Ceremony at AIM’s Annual Meeting (expected attendees: 400)
• Article and photos in AIM’s Summer MassBusiness Magazine
(circulation: 13,000)
• Extensive media and press coverage

Deadline & Notification
Nominations for the 2009 MAIB International Trade Achievement Awards will.be available in January 2009.

History of MAIB International Trade Achievement Awards
Since 1996, more than 50 Massachusetts companies have been recognized by MAIB for their expertise in international business. Award winners have included manufacturers of chemicals, specialty papers, heavy-duty cranes, pressure-sensitive and advanced films, golf balls, thermal processing equipment, puzzles, copper products, diagnostic testing equipment, textiles, personal care products, plastic molding, semi-conductor equipment, container board and saws. Awards have also been made to services providers in health care, insurance, engineering, finance, energy, post-secondary education, logistics and consulting.

About Massachusetts Alliance for International Business (MAIB)
The Massachusetts Alliance for International Business (MAIB), affiliated with Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), helps businesses identify and profit from opportunities in global commerce.
MAIB services include:
•On-Line News Bulletin: Informing the international business community about upcoming events, trade missions, trade shows, and knowledge sources
• Trade Seminars, Roundtables and Speaker Events: Educating companies and individuals by providing expertise on new market opportunities, trade regulations, and strategies for global expansion
• International Trade Achievement Awards: Recognizing excellence among businesses exemplifying leadership in international trade
• Massachusetts Export Trend Reports: Promoting export growth by tracking changes in export markets by products and destinations
• Referrals: Connecting Massachusetts businesspeople, firms, and the media to international trade experts, agencies, companies, and consultants

PREVIOUS WINNERS

PRODUCT EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT:
Acushnet Titleist Footjoy, Fairhaven
Advanced Instruments, Norwood 
Alpha Industries, Woburn 
American Saw & Mfg. (Lenox), E. Longmeadow
Bose Corporation, Framingham
BTU International, Billerica
Comverse Network Systems, Wakefield
David Clark Company, Worcester
Doble Engineering, Watertown
Dragon Systems, Newton
Flexcon Company, Spencer
Gillette Company, Boston
GSI Group (formerly General Scanning), Billerica
Hasbro Games Group, Longmeadow
Health Enterprises, Inc., No. Attleboro
Heinrich Ceramic Decal, Inc., Worcester
International Forest Products, Inc., Foxboro
Madico, Inc. Lintec Corporation, Woburn
Meadwestvaco Corporation, South Lee
Morgan Construction, Worcester
New England Door Corporation, Canton
North American Industries, Inc., Woburn
NYPRO Inc., Clinton
Quaker Fabrics Corporation, Fall River
Revere Copper Products, New Bedford
Rexam DSI, South Hadley
Raytheon Corporation, Lexington
Solutia, Inc., Springfield
Tannin Corporation, Peabody
ZRC Worldwide, Marshfield

SERVICES EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT:
Au Bon Pain Corporation, Inc., Boston
BankBoston, Boston
Camp, Dresser & McKee, Boston
Eagle Air Freight, Chelsea
International Data Group, Boston
INTRAL, Boston
Liberty Mutual Group, Boston
Mabbett & Associates, Inc., Bedford
The Mathworks, Inc., Natick
Randolph Engineering, Randolph
State Street Bank & Trust, Boston
TRC Process Engineering, Braintree

NON-PROFITS:
ACCION International, Boston
Boston University, Boston
China Program Center, UMass. Boston
Middlesex Comm Coll. Intl. Bus. Center, Bedford
Massachusetts Export Center, Boston
Mass. Inst. for Soc. & Econ. Research (MISER), Amherst
Mass. Ocean Technology Network, Hingham
Partners HealthCare System, Boston
Women in World Trade, Boston
Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce
World Affairs Council of Western Mass.
WorldCare International, Inc., Cambridge

2007
Heinrich Ceramic Decal, Worcester
Health Enterprises, No. Attleboro
Solutia’s Indian Orchard Plant, Springfield

2006
BTU International, Billerica
Liberty Mutual Group, Boston
ACCION International, Boston

2005
Acushnet Titleist Footjoy Company, Fairhaven
Flexcon Company, Spencer
Hasbro Games Group, Longmeadow
Madico, Inc. Lintec Corporation, Woburn
Meadwestvaco Corporation, South Lee

2004
International Forest Products Corporation, Foxboro
WorldCare International, Inc., Cambridge
University of Massachusetts/Boston China Program, Boston

2003
Tannin Corporation, Peabody
Au Bon Pain Corporation, Inc., Boston
Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research, Amherst

2002
North American Industries, Inc., Woburn
Mabbett & Associates, Inc., Bedford
Massachusetts Export Center, Boston

2001
Revere Copper Products, Inc., New Bedford
Boston University, Boston
NYPRO, Inc., Clinton

2000
David Clark Company, Inc., Worcester
Partners HealthCare System, Boston
Bose Corporation, Framingham

1999
GSI Group (formerly General Scanning), Watertown
ZRC Worldwide, Marshfield
Massachusetts Ocean Technology Network, Hingham
Raytheon Company, Lexington

1998
Alpha Industries, Woburn
Comverse Network Systems, Wakefield
Doble Engineering Company, Watertown
Rexam DSI, South Hadley
New England Door Corporation, Canton
International Communications
Camp, Dresser & McKee, Boston
Int'l. Business Center at Middlesex Community College, Bedford
State Street Bank and Trust, Boston

1997
American Saw and Manufacturing (Lenox), E. Longmeadow
Advanced Instruments, Inc., Norwood
International Data Group, Boston
Randolph Engineering, Randolph
Eagle Air Freight, Inc., Chelsea
INTRAL Corporation, Boston
Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce
World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts
The Gillette Company, Boston

1996
Morgan Construction Company, Worcester
Quaker Fabrics Corporation, Fall River
Dragon Systems, Newton
The Mathworks, Inc., Natick
Women in World Trade, Boston
The Massachusetts Export Center, Boston
Bank of Boston, Boston
TRC Process Engineering, Braintree