Rochdale-based Precision Technologies Group (PTG) was the proud recipient of the Greater China Business Award for the North West, at the Greater China Awards and Chinese New Year Dinner on Friday, 21 February 2014.

The event was held at The Lowry Theatre, Salford, and the Greater China Business Award won by Precision Technologies Group recognized the company’s significant contribution to developing business and network links with Greater China, including bi-lateral trade and investment.

“We are delighted to have been recognized for our efforts with such a prestigious honor,” commented PTG Group Business Development Director, Neil Jones. “That recognition is all the more significant for us as we are founder members of the Manchester-China Forum, an initiative that is passionate about strengthening ties between the city region and China.”

Precision Technologies Group has been developing strong business connections with China and Taiwan since the 1980s. The business established a Chinese office in 2007 and has enjoyed increased sales into China year-on-year. In 2013, for example, a Zenith 400 helical profile grinder from PTG Holroyd Precision was purchased by one of China’s leading manufacturers of refrigeration compressors. Valued at £1.16m, the machine tool is capable of precision grinding screw compressor rotors of up to 420 mm in diameter.

Similarly, Powerstir Friction Stir Welders, from PTG Heavy Industries, have become a preferred choice for creating railway carriage panels for China’s high-speed rail network. A unique method of jointing metals by ‘stirring’ them together, Friction Stir Welding (FSW) provides aesthetically pleasing, highly robust joints that are without the detrimental and sometimes unsightly effects associated with conventional welding. In a joint project with its technology partner, the China Friction Stir Welding Center, PTG Heavy Industries created a 30 m x 4 m gantry Powerstir machine capable of producing the longest ever single railway car panel weld in China at over 15 meters in length.

As an indication of the success of PTG’s activities in China, by 2009 the organization had caught the attention of Chinese industrial corporation, Chongqing Machinery & Electric Co. Ltd., who went on to acquire the business in June 2010.

Since acquisition, significant investment has been made in Precision Technologies Group by its Chinese owners. This has included allowing a considerable proportion of profits for the development of new products and markets, as well as investment in R&D, training and skills.

Chongqing Machinery is focused on learning best practice, improving budgeting, design, technology, marketing, talent development and production processes. As such, it sends people to PTG for in-house training and to gain valuable experience. Alongside this, PTG is developing programs with U.K. universities, to provide sponsored Chinese students with tailor-made study programs.

Philomena Chen, head of Asia Pacific Development for U.K. Trade & Investment North West said: “There was an outstanding level of entries for this year’s Greater China Awards, across a wide range of sectors from advanced manufacturing to food production and from IT to chemicals. Our winner, PTG Holroyd, has struck an excellent balance between China and the U.K. in the areas of research, production and market penetration. The company has always shown great determination in the Chinese market, immersing itself in local culture and business practices as early as the 1980s when few businesses had the foresight to anticipate China’s growth potential.”

Clive Drinkwater, regional director for U.K. Trade & Investment North West, said: “Exports from our region to Greater China in the 12 months ending September 2013 were around £2 billion, and China has been the North West’s strongest growth market for several years. Our 3rd biggest export customer, it has overtaken historically big markets such as Ireland and the Netherlands."

The Greater China Business Awards are organized by U.K. Trade & Investment North West and sponsored by Finnair, HSBC and Klako Group. The awards were presented by Fred Charpentier from Finnair, with the Finalists announced by Consul General Pan Yundong. The winners received international flight tickets, courtesy of Finnair.