Allen Engineering wins global trade award

Allen Engineering Corporation was one of four Arkansas companies honored
recently for leading the way in international business and exporting
throughout the world.  Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe presented AEC with
the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade during an awards
luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion on May 12, 2011.

“Arkansas is proving time and again that our manufacturers, farmers and
innovators can be exporters to the world,” Beebe said. “Today’s award
recipients are taking the lead in expanding the reach and horizons of
Arkansas businesses, to the benefit of our state and our workforce.”

AEC accepts its award.

This is the second year for the program, which is co-sponsored by the
Arkansas District Export Council, the Arkansas Economic Development
Commission, the U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Center-Arkansas
and the Arkansas World Trade Center. “These award winners show how
innovative Arkansas companies are working to help expand their export
sales while spurring competitiveness and economic growth here at home,”
said Suresh Kumar, assistant secretary of commerce for trade promotion
and director general of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

Judging criteria was based on factors such as most recent percentage of
export sales to total sales, growth of export sales over the past three
years, the company’s goals and commitments internationally and the
number of jobs saved or created due to the company’s export performance
if applicable.

AEC was recognized in the small/medium sized
manufacturer/service exporter category (less than US$50 million in total
sales).

Jay Allen, president of AEC, accepted the award. “It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of our employees and the Allen family," he said. "We are very
proud to be one of only four companies in Arkansas to receive this
award.” AEC is one of the few companies in its industry sector to
produce equipment entirely in the U.S.

AEC was recognized for its aggressive pursuit of global opportunities
through innovative tactics to capture market share, such as listening to
the market and educating it on what it takes to produce high quality
concrete floors. This approach has kept AEC focused on local markets'
needs and attitudes, which has given it critical competitive
advantages in more than 30 international markets.

AEC’s award application may have stood out to the judges due to its
success in India and southeast Asia. In southeast Asia, AEC has joined a
consortium of allied producers to create regional education and
training initiatives in an effort to establish the producer’s brand.
Training classes will begin in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong
Kong in the fall.

For more information, visit the AEC web site at www.alleneng.com.