Biotrin named DHL Exporter of the Year

Biotrin International, one of Ireland's new generation of healthcare companies from the biotechnology sector, has been chosen as the overall winner of the DHL Exporter of the Year Award 2003.

Tánaiste Mary Harney presented the Dublin-based company with a specially commissioned trophy, €5,000 worth of international shipments and a cheque for €10,000 to invest in their overseas marketing programme at a ceremony in Dublin, today.

Biotrin International is a diagnostic company operating in the healthcare sector that specialises in providing a range of proprietary tests for hospital laboratories, clinicians and research scientists.

Established in 1992, the company was founded by Dr Cormac G Kilty with the specific aim of delivering novel diagnostic technologies for niches which larger companies were not addressing.

Biotrin now has two distinct business units supported by strong patent positions: Infectious Diseases, which provides tests for the detection of new and emerging viruses; and Organ Damage, which includes a range of tests for the detection of novel, proprietary biomarkers to assess tissue damage.

Biotrin International today employs 64 people and currently exports its products to a total of 50 countries covering North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Almost all of the company's revenue is accounted for by exports. The company sells directly in the US, through its subsidiaries in Germany and France, and employs a network of over 40 distributors worldwide.

Last year, Biotrin announced that its management team had completed a successful buyout of the company from its predominantly venture-capital based investors.

Presenting the Awards, the Tánaiste said: "Exports are the lifeblood of all dynamic and innovative companies.

"These companies underline the capacity of Irish business to maintain a strong competitive advantage on world markets by delivering high quality products to customers when and where they need them."

Five companies; AM-BEO, Atlanfish, Biotrin International, Libra Designs and Shannon Minerals reached the 2003 final and all competed for the title of DHL Exporter of the Year.

The judging panel included Pat Delaney, Small Firms Association; Jim Maguire, Enterprise Ireland; John Whelan, Irish Exporters Association; John Dunne, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland; Barry Kenny, Irish Management Institute; and Bernard McCarthy, DHL.

The DHL Export Awards have become the pre-eminent awards scheme for Irish exporters.

Now celebrating their 10th year, the DHL Export Awards are designed to show recognition to Irish companies involved in exporting and to develop public awareness of the vital role that small businesses play in the continuing economic development of Ireland.