A GATESHEAD manufacturing company has been shortlisted as one of the most improved companies in the UK, as part of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2011.

Palintest design and manufacture a range water testing kits, photometers and reagents, supplying customers around the world.

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns said: “It’s fantastic news that Palintest has been shortlisted for a Manufacturing Excellence Award, and particularly heartening to see it shortlisted as the most improved company.

“Manufacturing Excellence is all about helping businesses, like Palintest, improve and excel, and I hope the company can inspire more local manufacturers to take part in the Manufacturing Excellence programme.” Manufacturing Excellence, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is the most successful and long-established manufacturing support programme in the UK, and the only one that provides a detailed benchmarking and assessment process to help improve manufacturing businesses.

As part of the Manufacturing Excellence programme, companies are asked to conduct an in-depth self assessment, and those who complete one or more of the eight parts receive a free, bespoke and confidential benchmark report.

The winning companies in each of the categories will be given their award at the Manufacturing Excellence Award Ceremony at the Dorchester in London on November 23.