Cool winners of Queen’s Awards

UK: Bromsgrove-based data centre cooling company Excool and sustainable supermarket fridge technology firm Wirth Research of Bicester have both been named in this year’s Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Excool, manufacturer of a fully developed and purpose designed low energy indirect adiabatic-air-based cooling system for data centres, was the recipient of a Queen’s Award for International Trade, while Wirth Research, experts in aerodynamics and computer modelling, won an award for Sustainable Development.

The annual Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organisations who excel at international trade, innovation, sustainable development or promoting opportunity. They are the highest official UK awards for British businesses

This year’s winners, announced today, include 232 businesses from across the UK and from a range of sectors. There were 141 winners of International Trade awards, 51 Innovation winners, 31 Sustainable Development awards and nine Promoting Opportunity winners.  

Excool was recognised for its outstanding continuous growth in overseas sales over the last six years. During the period to March 2021, its overseas sales grew 740%, and now make up 70% of all sales. Its main markets are Germany, Switzerland, Norway, France, and China. It has set up a division in North America and also entered into a joint venture with a Chinese partner in Beijing.

In winning a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, Wirth Research was noted for its journey from pinnacle motorsport design to using its expertise in aerodynamics and computer modelling to design sustainable solutions for problems in different sectors. Products include the EcoBlade fridge shelf-edge technology, AirDoor overdoor air heater, low carbon store modelling, low carbon food manufacturing solutions, wind services, commercial vehicle Aerokits and natural ventilation.