Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning has congratulated Maylands-based company FFEI Ltd on receiving their second Queen’s Award for Innovation. Managing Director, Andy Cook, will lead a party to a special reception at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 14th July.

This will be followed on 9th September by a visit from the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Lady Verulum, who will present the company with a crystal bowl and certificate. The company will also be able to use the Queen’s Award emblem for a five-year period.

FFEI won the award for the development of a polymer composite internal drum computer-to-plate (CTP) solution for the printing industry. The internal drums which had previously been made from aluminium but the increasing price of raw materials meant that an alternative needed to be found, especially to enable export to emerging markets.

MD Andy Cook said:
“We are delighted to receive the Queen’s Award for this British innovation which has achieved success in price-sensitive markets against stiff international and domestic competition.”

Mike Penning said:
“This is a great achievement by a local company and I am pleased that their hard work and investment has been recognised and rewarded in this way. I congratulate Andy Cook and all his team who are making great progress in exporting to emerging markets.”