Queen's Award: Innovation winners cross a wide range

Apr 21 2008

The Innovation sector of the Queen's Awards recognised outstanding new developments from an eclectic mix of large and small enterprises across the Midlands in 2008.

Category winners included Burton-upon-Trent based Activa Healthcare, which produces wound care products, Rugby-based Bernhard & Co, which has developed an innovative lawnmower sharpener, and Keepsake Card Craft, of Oldbury, which has created a patented embossing board.

Also selected was Kidderminster's Titan Steel Wheels, which has developed special wheels for mobile cranes. The company, currently the subject of a possible takeover by its former American parent, won an award last year and is also a previously winner of The Birmingham Post Business Award.

Keepsake Card Craft proved that size counts for nothing when it comes to successful innovation. The company, which employs just 11 people in Sandwell Business Park, Oldbury, has been rewarded for developing its patented embossing board which supports the decorating of cards and creating three-dimensional designs on paper.

The innovation, which does away with traditional processes involving the use of a stencil, stylus and light-box, has led to significant sales growth for this small company.

Land Rover's patented Terrain Response system has won the automotive firm a Queen's Award for Innovation.

Terrain Response is a significant advance hailed for simplifying driving which can control ride height, and comfort engine torque response, hill descent control, electronic traction control, transmission and differential settings.

Award winners last year in the International Trade category, Titan Steel Wheels, has demonstrated all-round success by triumphing this year in the Innovation section.

The company has been recognised for the continuous development of its three-piece integrated-flange wheels for mobile cranes.

The wheels meet higher speed demands for lightness and increased dimensional accuracy and are cheaper and faster to manufacture than alternatives.

An Innovation Award has also been granted to Bernhard and Co for a sharpening system for simple, fast and accurate sharpening of lawnmowers. A lawnmower is placed onto the system which automatically grinds the blades to produce a high consistency of cut and stops automatically when the sharpening is finished.

It has been championed by green-keepers and golf course managers and has lead to growing commercial success, especially in export sales.

Activia Healthcare, from Burton-on-Trent, has also won an Innovation Award for developing three wound care products, which are bringing commercial success to the company and significant relief to many people.

The products include a pain-reducing wound dressing, a stocking for patients suffering from chronic lymphatic diseases and a leg ulcer treatment kit which allows patients to wear ordinary footwear rather than bulky and often uncomfortable bandages.