Company representatives with their export awards. Left to right: Heidi Green, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Andrew Sherwood, Asia/Pacific Manager for Micromeritics Instrument Corp.; Tim Lydell, CEO of Label Vision Systems Inc.; Leland Sanders, vice president of manufacturing at Temcor Corp.; Mat Carmichael, shipping manager at Temcor Corp.; Bruce Allen, honorary consul for Liechtenstein. Photo by Mark Pierson.

Jim Blair (left) receives the individual achievement award from Bruce Allen (right).  Photo by Mark Pierson.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development recognized three small- and medium-sized businesses in the state for exporting innovative products with the first Featured Export Product Awards presented at the 6th Annual Georgia European Union Summit in Macon Nov. 8.

"While awards already exist for export achievement, this is the first award that recognizes the uniqueness of a product and its potential in the international marketplace," said Kathe Falls, director of international trade in the global commerce division at the Georgia department. She added that companies must have less than 150 employees or $50 million in annual revenue to be eligible for the award.

Christopher Smith, honorary consul of Denmark, established the E.U. summit in 2001 to promote the economic partnership between Georgia and its European trading partners. Bruce Allen, honorary consul of Liechtenstein and chairman of the summit, said that Europe accounts for 62 percent of foreign investment in Georgia and provides over 170,000 jobs to the state.

Heidi Green, deputy commissioner of global commerce at the Georgia department, delivered the keynote address and joined Mr. Allen in presenting the awards.

A committee comprising members of the Georgia department of economic development and the E.U. summit chose winners from more than two dozen nominations submitted to the department.

Peachtree City-based award winner Label Vision Systems Inc. manufactures systems that inspect mass-produced electronic images such as labels or bar codes for blemishes or irregularities.  The company does business in China, Europe and South America, according to the company’s Web site.

Norcross-based Micromeritics Instrument Corp. produces tools for verifying the physical characteristics of powders and other non-solid substances for research laboratories.  Mr. Allen said that the company has five European subsidiaries and will open its third office in China next year.

The Rincon-based manufacturing arm of Temcor Corp., headquartered in Gardena, Calif., produces aluminum domed structures such as arenas, greenhouses and laboratories.  Temcor has built domes in Antarctica, China and South America, according to company press releases.

Jim Blair, regional director of business development at the Georgia department, was recognized with the second annual individual award for promoting economic development in the state.  Mr. Allen said that Mr. Blair has helped bring 120 European enterprises to Georgia.

The export and individual awards will continue to be given annually at the E.U. summit. The Macon International Cherry Blossom Festival, a ten-day event celebrating the city’s abundance of cherry trees begun in 1982, now manages the summit.