PAST WINNER INTERVIEW
MRT Castings
AWARD CATEGORY: International Trade SIZE OF COMPANY: 50 employees WHERE BASED: Andover, Hampshire TYPE OF BUSINESS: Manufacturing PROFILE: Phil Rawnson JOB TITLE: Managing Director Company Background MRT Castings is a private family-owned manufacturer of aluminium diecastings and precision machined components. Founded in 1947, the Andover-based company has continually invested in the latest technology to specialise in supplying the medical, automotive, marine, aerospace and electronics sectors. Combining ISO 9001 approved manufacturing facilities with innovative engineering, competitive pricing and outstanding customer service, MRT offers a complete solution, from design, casting and CNC machining through to finishing, assembly and logistics.
What made MRT Castings apply for a King’s Award? In 2020 we found ourselves at the centre of the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic. MRT had been supplying components for critical care ventilators for the previous six years, but the scale of the sudden increase in demand was overwhelming. Our team stepped up to the challenge, and in a matter of weeks tripled the scale of our entire business, enabling us to supply components for the manufacture of 26,000 ventilators when they were needed most. The achievement was monumental, and we were keen that our team’s efforts were recognised in a meaningful way. If there had been a King’s Award for emergency response, we would have applied for that! All of our medical device components were for export customers, so International Trade was the most appropriate category to celebrate this achievement.
What research did you do about the Awards?
The Awards website was really helpful, but we also spoke to a couple of customers who had previously been Awards recipients, and they shared their experiences. We had previously won a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2016, following a sustained period of growth in export sales to Europe and the USA.
What planning did you do beforehand?
Very little! Essentially, we just needed to tell the story of our recent experiences, and present the financial information which we already had readily available.
How did you find the application process?
The King’s Awards are about celebrating incredible achievements. Taking the time to sit down to reflect and document the vision, the process, the individual contributions, and the results was an incredibly positive experience.
www. kingsawardsmagazine .com
132
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator