Cambridgeshire-based Zettlex (www.zettlex.com), which designs and manufactures speed and position sensors for extreme environments, hosted an event at its Foxton facility earlier this month to receive its second Queen’s Award (this time in the international trade category) from the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (Julie Spence).

The company now exports to 50 countries, and this accounts for nearly 90% of its sales.

Managing director Mark Howard said: “Zettlex has been growing at more than 30% a year for the last five years, and there’s no sign of a slowdown.

"Our sensors are being used in equipment such as medical scanners, surgical robotics, space rockets, submarines and racing cars.

"Almost 90% of our sales are for export — mostly to countries with which the UK has no trade deal, such as the USA, Brazil, India and South Korea.

“Zettlex is investing in new equipment and recruiting more staff, and we’ve recently applied for planning permission for a new technology centre in Foxton to expand our R&D laboratories and technology operations.

“This will allow us to retain our skilled local workforce and keep using local suppliers; we buy nearly 80% of our material from other UK companies.”