Royal recognition for malmesbury firm (From This Is Wiltshire)

Malmesbury manufacturer Alvan Blanch is celebrating being presented with its second Queen’s Award for Industry in a decade.

The company specialises in the design, production and supply of machines and integrated systems for the processing of agricultural produce and waste materials across the world.

Based in Chelworth, the company was established over 50 years ago by the late Alvan Blanch OBE and now exports machinery to more than 100 countries.

It was announced late last year that Alvan Blanch had won a second Queen’s Award for international trade, having already won one in 2005.

Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, presented the company with a cut-glass bowl last week and gave a short speech.

The presentation took place in a newly completed area of the factory, which is part of a £2 million investment which has taken place over the past year.

Managing director Andrew Blanch, who is the founder’s son, said: “We are delighted that our achievement in expanding global export markets in a very competitive environment has been recognised in this way for a second time in less than a decade.

“Every employee played a part.”

As part of the award, two members of staff were invited to Buckingham Palace at the end of last year to represent the company at a reception.

Nick Gaisford, exports manager for the northern hemisphere, and John Henden, factory manager, attended the event at which the Queen and other members of the royal family were present.