GOVERNOR HONORS OHIO BUSINESSES FOR SUPERIOR EXPORTING
Marathon Sensors Inc. earns “Exporter of the Year” award

COLUMBUS – Governor Ted Strickland today recognized 31 Ohio businesses for outstanding contributions to exporting with the 2007 Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award (“E” Award) at an awards ceremony at the Statehouse Atrium. Among the winners was the 2007 Exporter of the Year, Marathon Sensors Inc., located in West Chester (Butler County).

 “Ohio is poised to become a leader in our fast-growing global economy, and we must continue to recognize that opportunities beyond our state borders are vital to Ohio’s economic success,” Strickland said. “These businesses represent the kind of drive, vision, and innovation required to be a leader in Ohio’s exporting industry.  I’m proud to honor them today.”

Since 1985 the “E” Awards program has recognized companies and organizations of all sizes that have demonstrated outstanding performance in exporting or heightened awareness of exporting as a vital component of the State’s economy. The Exporter of the Year award goes to one Ohio company that exemplifies the State’s commitment to international trade.

Marathon Sensors Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets atmosphere sensors, instrumentation and control systems. Marathon’s high-temperature products can reduce the amount of fuel required for fuel-intensive processes and help to lower emissions, resulting in an overall “greener” footprint for its customers. Marathon is now the number-one brand in Asia for atmosphere heat treatment, while retaining manufacturing and even growing the number of employees in Ohio.

“Our mission is to strengthen Ohio’s economic force not only in the United States but in foreign markets,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). “The constantly changing landscape of our modern business climate needs leaders who are not afraid to roll with the changes, and then create change of their own, and we’ve found those leaders in our “E” Awards winners today.”

Ohio is the eighth-largest exporting state and is the only state with exports that have increased every year since 1998. In 2006, Ohio companies exported $37.8 billion in goods, an increase of 8.7 percent over 2005.

2007 Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards winners

Exporter of the Year – Marathon Sensors, Inc., West Chester (Butler County)
AddisonMckee Inc., Lebanon (Warren County)
Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., Dover (Tuscarawas County)
Artromick International, Inc., Columbus (Franklin County)
Bionix Development Corporation, Toledo (Lucas County)
Bird Electronic Corporation, Solon (Cuyahoga County)
BOC Water Hydraulics Inc., Lisbon (Columbiana County)
BriskHeat Corporation, Columbus (Franklin County)
Cooper Farms, St. Henry (Mercer County)
CresCor, Mentor (Lake County)
Dynamic Control of North America, Inc., Hamilton (Butler County)
EYE Lighting International of N.A., Inc., Mentor (Lake County)
Gold Medal Products Co., Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
GRAMINEX L.L.C., Deshler (Henry County)
Helm Instrument Company, Inc., Maumee (Lucas County)
Industrial Workforce LTD., Mansfield (Richland County)
J.E. Grote Company, Columbus (Franklin County)
Motoman Inc., West Carrollton (Montgomery County)
NBBJ, Columbus (Franklin County)
Nordson Corporation, Westlake (Cuyahoga County)
Printer Systems Division, Avery Dennison, Miamisburg (Montgomery County)
Quality Switch, Inc., Newton Falls (Trumbull County)
The Robbins Company, Solon (Cuyahoga County)
Rollins 3PL, Springfield (Clark County)
TEGAM, Inc., Geneva (Ashtabula County)
Teledyne Tekmar Company, Mason (Warren County)
Telesis Technologies, Inc., Circleville (Pickaway County)
Tuscarawas County Port Authority, Dover (Tuscarawas County)
VENTRAC by Venture Products, Inc., Orrville (Wayne County)
Voss Industries, Inc., Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)
Williamson College of Business Administration, Youngstown State University, Youngstown (Mahoning County)

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Media contacts: Kelly Hassett (614) 466-4133 or Kimber Perfect (614) 466-2609