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Flow-Rite Controls Honored as One of the 2009 'Michigan 50 Companies to Watch'

(Byron Center, MI) – Flow-Rite Controls has been recognized as one of the 2009 “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch,” an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

Flow-Rite Controls will be honored at an awards ceremony during the fifth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 30 in Lansing, Mich.

“In today’s economy, Companies to Watch has become a real game changer,” says Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship development at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a nonprofit operating foundation based in Michigan. “It changes the conversation from slow-growth, layoffs and closings, to companies that are expanding, hiring, and moving beyond traditional markets.”

“Presenters of the Michigan program recognized this potential since its inaugural year, five years ago,” Lewandowski says. “With a vow to find 50 new companies to celebrate each year, Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is now 250 strong. These are the companies that sustain Michigan through tough times and are transforming how the rest of the nation views the state.”

As a vertically integrated company, Flow-Rite Controls designs, manufacturers, and markets fluid control devices that are widely used in lead acid batteries, recreational fishing boats, laboratory and medical devices. Flow-Rite is continuing to expand its product line up to include refill valves for tire inflation as well as a new line of fasteners that will be used broadly across all industries.

When asked about being selected, Flow-Rite’s President Dan Campau said, “Our team is excited to have been selected as a Michigan 50 to Watch company. It’s nice to know that even though our work is buried in the bilge of a boat or under a forklift seat, it still gets noticed! We are excited to explore our many growth opportunities with both our existing and upcoming new products. In anticipation (of this growth) we have just completed a 49K square foot addition that doubled the size of our facility. Though our business grows across the country and in international markets, we are proud to call Michigan our home.”

Companies nominated for the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” list must be second-stage companies, defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. In addition, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Michigan.

Winners were selected by judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development and venture capital communities. Judges evaluated the nominees’ demonstrated intent and capacity to grow based on one or more of the following:

• Employee or sales growth.
• Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership.
• Sustainable competitive advantage.
• Other notable factors that showcase the company's success.


Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. National City, now part of PNC, is the lead underwriter for Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Other supporters include Clark Hill PLC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, IBM and Dynamic Edge.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is presented in association with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Small Business Association of Michigan, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

www.flow-rite.com

Exhibitions

February 2010 - Deutsche Messe postpones premiere of industrial tradeshows in Dubai until 2011
Deutsche Messe is postponing the industrial trade fairs CeMAT MIDDLE EAST, Industrial Automation (IA) MIDDLE EAST and Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA) MIDDLE EAST – all originally schedu led to take place in February 2010 – until 2011.


March 2010 - Stuttgart, 2nd - 4th March
From 2 to 4 March 2010 LogiMAT, the International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow, is taking place in Stuttgart accompanied by an extensive fringe programme. It is the eighth edition of this annual meeting point for the intralogistics industry – the largest in Europe.


March 2010 - France, 23rd - 26th
Transport and Logistics services, Supply chain Management, Logistics Infrastructures, Logistics Real Estate, Technologies and Information Systems, Materials Handling and Warehouse equipment…


April 2010 - Cleveland, 26th - 29th
NA 2010 (The 2010 Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference) will bring together manufacturers, consultants, third party logistics providers, publishers and system integrators to demonstrate their equipment, systems and services to tens of thousands of industry professionals from around the world, seeking productivity solutions.


May 2010 - Barcelona, 25th - 28th
Barcelona, 23 November 2009. As part of its constant desire to improve the service it offers exhibitors and visitors as well as provide a bigger and better service, the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL) has updated its website.


June 2010 - Guangzhou, China, 2nd - 4th
In China, cold chain logistics industry is in its infancy, While cold chain market share on both sides of the Atlantic has already reached 80 - 90%-that in Europe and Russia is 50%, in developing countries in general is 10 - 20%-only 20% of freight moving in China goes refrigerated.


November 2010 - Eindhoven, 10th - 11th
It is with justified pride that Bureau Bosman BV is introducing Groothandel & Logistiek’s new trade show name. From now on, Groothandel & Logistiek will be called: Bedrijf en Logistiek, the trade show for goods-in, storage and goods-out. The eleventh edition will take place on November 10 and 11 in the Exhibition Building in Eindhoven.  


November 2010 - Birmingham, 16th - 19th
Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions Ltd, organiser of the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX), has announced that – in response to exhibitor requests – the show’s dates have moved from March to November next year.


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Legislation set to change
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