Palace date for award-winning firms

High-flying companies from the Black Country and Staffordshire will be travelling to Buckingham Palace tomorrow to be presented with awards by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

Businesses based in Wolverhampton, Oldbury, Kidderminster and Uttoxeter have all picked up Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2008.

The local winners include security firm Fortress Interlocks Ltd, of Inverclyde Drive, Parkfields, Wolverhampton, which has been successful in the International Trade category. JCB, based in Uttoxeter and Rocester, is a winner in the same group.

In the Innovation category, Keepsake Card Craft (2004) Ltd, Oldbury, has picked up an award for its patented embossing board for card decoration. Titan Steel Wheels Ltd, of Kidderminster, has also won an Innovation accolade for its three-piece integrated flange wheels for mobile cranes.

Fortress Interlocks managing director Mike Golding said: "Winning the Queen's Award is a fantastic achievement, particularly following on from our Queen's Award for Innovation last year. It's a measure of our achievement and a return on our self belief that we can be an internationally thriving company.

"But mostly, it's a reward for all the Fortress employees who work so hard to make this company successful."

Titan Steel Wheels Ltd is a designer and manufacturer of rims and wheels. Managing director Chris Akers said he was "delighted" with the award for the second year running. The company employs 450 workers at its steel wheel-making factory at Cookley. Mr Akers said: "This award acts as testimony to the continued efforts of the dedicated, talented and determined workforce at Titan Steel Wheels."

JCB chief operating officer Matthew Taylor said: "This is a great honour for JCB and also for the employees and dealers around the world who have made such a major contribution to the growth in exports between 2004 and 2006."

A total of 14 companies will be at the ceremony organised by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.