Further information is available from: Jeff Hay; 704-331-4950; jhay@wcsr.com

UK RECOGNISES EXCELLENCE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN THE CAROLINAS

President of the British American Business Council in Charlotte (BABC Charlotte), Mr Jeff Hay of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP, announced today that two local businesses, 3D Systems Inc and Beardow Adams Group, will be the recipients of the prestigious 2013 British Consul General Award. The Awards, presented annually, celebrate businesses which exemplify the primary mission of the BABC Charlotte which is the promotion of bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and the Carolinas. The Awards will be presented at a black tie dinner on 21 March. "We are honoured that Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest will be the keynote speaker at the Consul General Awards Dinner, which is one of the highlights of the BABC calendar," said President Hay. "Her Majesty's Consul General Annabelle Malins will meet the Award recipients and present the awards personally on 21 March".

Consul General Malins said "It is a pleasure to recognize these two leading companies, one British and one American, which are both finding success in international business. Beardow Adams Group is a fast growing British Company which has made significant investment in a new manufacturing operation in Charlotte in the last year. 3D Systems, headquartered in Rock Hill SC, is a market leader in a cutting edge sector and is finding continuing international success through their European headquarters in the UK."

 

Additional Notes:

Beardow Adams Group will receive the Award for a United Kingdom company investing and doing business in the Carolinas.

Beardow Adams is a cutting edge manufacturer of hot melt adhesives, with applications in the packaging, labeling, woodworking, product assembly, bookbinding and converting industries. It is based in Milton Keynes, England and was founded over 35 years ago. It has subsidiaries in Spain, Sweden and the United States. Beardow Adams acquired its first US manufacturing facility, located at 3034 Horseshoe Lane, an industrial building near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, in 2012, and its manufacturing line is expected to become operational on March 11, 2013. The Company has invested more than $5 million in its Charlotte facility and expects to employ more than 30 employees over the next five years. It received a grant from the One North Carolina Fund and matching grants from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

3D Systems Inc (3DS) will receive the Award for a United States company investing and doing business in the United Kingdom.

3DS is a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and on-demand custom parts services. The company also provides CAD, reverse engineering and inspection software tools and consumer 3D printers, apps and services. 3DS is headquartered in Rock Hill, SC, and recently completed the acquisition of Morrisville, NC-based Geomagic, a leading global provider of 3D authoring solutions. 3DS has been doing business in the United Kingdom for over 2 decades, supporting its entire European operation from Hemel Hempstead since 2006. In 2010 3DS acquired Bits from Bytes, LTD, based in Clevedon, gaining a foothold in entry level 3D printers considered both practical and affordable for educational programs, start-ups and DIY'ers. 3DS has continued to invest by expanding the facility in Bristol and today employs approximately 50 people in the UK.