A CLUTCH of East Lancashire companies today won accolades in the coveted Queen's Awards for industry.

Four firms in the area have been highlighted for export achievements - the highest number in the North West - and the Blackburn-based Scapa Group is one of just four in the region to win an award for technological achievement.

For Borden Decorative Products, better known as Crown Wallcoverings, winning the Queen's Award for Export Achievement tops a year of success for its overseas orders.

It is also regional winner of the Nat West/FT Exporter of the Year Awards and was a national runner-up in the same awards.

The Darwen firm exports to 60 countries and is the world's largest exporter of wallcoverings. Turnover in its overseas markets has risen to around £65 million.

"This award is a great achievement for everyone in the company. Our success is built upon understanding the needs of world markets and producing innovative, quality products to fill those needs," said Graham Hayhurst, commercial director.

For Altham-based family textile firm James Dewhurst, the export award comes two years after it won a technology title.

Exports of its woven and non-woven industrial fabrics have doubled in the last three years and now represent more than 75 per cent of total turnover. The company has recently opened its own offices in Germany to co-ordinate European sales.

Darwen-based Wolstenholme International has picked up its second export award 29 years after winning the first.

The company, which manufactures metallic pigments and inks used to create gold and silver effects on packaging, has increased its exports by more than 60 per cent.

"We've put a lot of investment into the company and employees to take advantage of opportunities wherever they occur in the world and I'm tremendously pleased everybody in the company has played their part in ensuring this investment has paid off," said chief executive Paul Rink.

The fourth local winner, Panaz, of Fence, makes flame-retardant fabrics used in hotels and hospitals. It sells in 38 markets worldwide with 75 per cent of sales in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Products Division of Scapa Group, based at the Scapa-Scandia site on Cartmell Road, has won a Queen's Award for Technological Achievement after developing a special membrane used in paper manufacture.

David Dunn, Scapa Group's chief executive, said: "The Advanced Products Division works with almost every Scapa business and its contribution enables us to remain at the forefront of technology in our chosen fields."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.