LEADING Newport-based manufacturing business IAC Ltd has scooped a top export award in a national competition.

The company, based at Queensway Meadows, was one of three South Wales businesses, including Chepstow-based TXO, which have been crowned the South East Wales Area winners of HSBC’s Global Connections initiative and now go on to represent south East Wales in the Wales and South West of England finals.

Industrial Automation and Control is an award-winning specialist electrical systems integrator operating in the UK and globally in metals, bulk materials handling, oil and gas, water, chemicals and numerous other industries

The Global Connections award recognises businesses which are achieving excellence in three categories - innovation, international trade and mid-market growth.

Now in its fourth year the HSBC staged competition is founded on the belief that expansion and success for UK businesses is likely to come to those which venture beyond its home territories and take its products and services into the growth markets of the future.

IAC Ltd uses the world’s leading suppliers integrating components into tailored systems to match home and increasingly global customers’ specific needs.

IAC Ltd, TXO, and Cardiff-based Hospital Innovations, will now go on to compete in the South West and Wales Regional Final. The six winners from the regional final will compete for the UK national title.

Peter Lewis, managing director of IAC Ltd said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised in this way by the HSBC and the Global Connections Award.

“IAC is increasingly looking overseas to grow our business. We have already, through our own efforts, created solid exposure and markets for our bespoke products in places such as South Africa, Australia, Dubai and China. We were particularly interested in the chance offered through HSBC’s Global Connections competition, to be able to exploit opportunities for international exchange to emerging markets around the world.”

Chepstow-based TXO is a world leading global supplier of used telecom parts, importing and exporting from its 110,000 sq ft headquarters. A family business run by Alan Ockenden, the company deals with the majority of the world’s leading telecoms firms.

HSBC Cardiff and south east Wales area commercial director Roger Pratt said: “The competition from the South East Wales region has been intense this year and that is why we decided to have three winners and three commendations.

“This region boasts some fantastic businesses leading the world in their chosen fields and I am confident that we could have an overall UK winner from the three companies going forward.”

HSBC said companies short listed for awards get the opportunity to take part in an International Exchange – a series of seminars, visits and networking. The exchanges take place in cities around the world selected as growth markets of the coming decades. Previous destinations have included New York, Singapore, Shanghai and Dubai. Business owners leave with a fresh perspective of international markets and a revitalised vision for their business.

The commendations included Newport-based GD Environmental.