FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 29, 2009

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

2009 award-winners include Eastern Bank of Boston,
Middleton & Shrull of Burlington, Exim Associates of Sharon,
Headwall Photonics of Fitchburg, Extrusion Technology of Randolph

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Alliance for International Business (MAIB), affiliated with Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), announced today the recipients of its 2009 International Trade Achievement Awards. The awards, in their 14th 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.

“Many companies are innovating and growing their businesses in the international marketplace, overcoming the challenges of the current financial climate, and we believe it’s important to recognize these companies for their contributions to the Massachusetts economy,” said Kristen Rupert, MAIB’s executive director.

The winning companies will be honored at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts’ Annual Meeting & Luncheon on Friday, May 8 at the Waltham Westin Hotel.

AMBASSADOR’S AWARD:Eastern Bank (Boston) in partnership with Middleton & Shrull (Burlington) and Exim Associates (Sharon)

Eastern Bank, Middleton & Shrull and Exim Associates successfully collaborated to offer seminars on a full range of export and import topics, including finance, legal, compliance, transportation, and licensing, to over 1,000 individuals representing more than 200 companies in Massachusetts. The seminars are helping Massachusetts companies expand and succeed in the international marketplace.

GLOBAL AWARD:Headwall Photonics, Inc., Fitchburg

Headwall Photonics’ high-performance instruments detect and analyze wavelengths of light.  Used in a wide range of industries – telecommunications, medical, life sciences, defense and more--Headwall products match colors in textiles, detect contaminants in food, measure components in pharmaceutical products, analyze crime scenes, and provide wide field-of-view imaging for defense and Homeland Security operations. In a challenging economy, Headwall has achieved sales growth of 15 percent over the past two years.  A nimble player, Headwall Photonics’ team of 30 Mass.-based employees is exporting products to the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD: Extrusion Technology, Inc., Randolph

Extrusion Technology is a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminum faceplates and front panels for the electronics, telecommunications and networking industries. XTech has developed an outstanding reputation for offering customized engineering design and development services, coupled with providing the highest quality product and rapid delivery times. The company has successfully grown from a regional supplier to a global company with manufacturing sites in both Randolph, Mass., and China.

“Extrusion Technology represents the adaptability required to thrive in the global economy we live in,” commented Ben Schwartz, TD Banknorth’s Senior Vice President and Director of International Banking, and a member of the MAIB Board of Directors who helped judge this year’s award entries.

The MAIB International Trade Achievement Awards have recognized more than 50 Massachusetts companies, institutions and individuals since 1996. A complete list of award recipients is available at www.aimnet.org/maib.

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 6500 member companies employing 650,000 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. 

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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 on the dais at AIM’s May 8, 2009 Annual Meeting (expected    attendees: 400)
• Article and photos in AIM’s Summer 2009 Mass. Business Magazine (circulation: 13,000)
• Extensive media and press coverage

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.

Winners over the past few years include Meadwestvaco, Madico, Acushnet/Titleist/Footjoy, Hasbro Games, Flexcon, UMass Boston, BTU International, Tannin Corporation, International Forest Products, WorldCare International, Mabbett & Associates, Nypro, Bose, ZRC, Health Enterprises, Solutia, and the Massachusetts Export Center.

For a complete list of past award recipients, go to www.aimnet.org/maib.

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

2008
Hardigg Industries, South Deerfield
Fabrico Inc., Oxford
Aspect Medical Systems, Norwood

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