PaR Systems Receives Governor's International Trade Award
Saint Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota - PaR Systems, Inc., a world leader in designing and manufacturing advanced engineered equipment and systems, today announced it received the 2012 Governor's International Trade Award from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Trade Office.
Each year, Minnesota's Governor honors a select group of Minnesota companies that have shown exceptional progress and success in international trade by conferring the Governor's International Trade Award. The award also recognizes the positive effect that exports and trade have on the state's economy.
PaR Systems was one of ten recipients being honored at the Governor's 27th Annual International Trade Awards and Minneapolis-St. Paul Export Initiative luncheon today at the IDS Center in Minneapolis. Brian Behm, President of PaR Robotics, accepted the award on behalf of PaR Systems. "It is an honor to receive this award in recognition of PaR's strategic international business initiatives, and our growing export business," said Brian Behm.
In 1961, four engineers from General Mills spun off to form one of the earliest robotic companies to manufacture manipulators and fuel handling equipment for high radiation environments. Still headquartered in Minnesota over 50 years later, PaR Systems (PaR) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of highly engineered equipment and systems for critical applications to many diverse industries including aerospace, construction, defense, food and beverage, industrial manufacturing, life science, mining, and nuclear. With thousands of successful applications installed in over 30 countries, PaR employs highly trained engineers and technicians making it a challenging and rewarding place to work. Some of the world's most complex engineered systems were designed, manufactured, and installed by PaR, including the largest Super Gantryä crane in the world for construction of the Olmsted Dam on the Ohio River, the crane transport system for the NASA space shuttle, and automated drilling systems to manufacture the new F-35, Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
PaR employs about 370 people worldwide, and currently almost 15% of the Robotics business is derived from international sales to Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, doubling from the previous year. PaR expects to again at least double its exports in the coming year, and will continue to experience substantial increases in export sales with projects for laser technology, aircraft elevators, integrated waterjet cutting, automated mining equipment, and automated precision drilling systems for aerospace manufacturing, and remote handling systems for nuclear clean-up being delivered to Africa, Canada, India, China, Italy, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Japan, among others. Due to the unique, often times first-of-a-kind engineered solutions, all of these projects require intense program and project management, and the ability to work adeptly across borders.
