Governor Parkinson Visited Osborne Industries on Sept. 24

Company was named Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award winner in June 2010

Governor Mark Parkinson visited Osborne Industries on Friday, September 24, in Osborne, Kan., in celebration of the company winning the 2010 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award.

The Governor’s visit included a facility tour with Osborne Industries President Steve Langley, followed by an awards ceremony with Osborne Industries employees in the company’s warehouse. Governor Parkinson made brief remarks and presented President Langley with commemorative pins for OI employees.

Osborne Industries was named the Governor’s Exporter of the Year at the annual Kansas Cavalry Encampment awards ceremony in June for our innovative livestock equipment. The Exporter of the Year Award is presented annually to a single Kansas company for exceptional international marketing success and is intended to showcase successful exporters as role models to other Kansas businesses. The award is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas International Trade Coordinating Council.

“In June, I had the honor of presenting Osborne Industries with the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award for outstanding achievement in international marketing,”” Governor Parkinson said. “Our upcoming visit gives us another chance to celebrate the company’s incredible accomplishments, this time with the company’s entire workforce. This is a special day for the city, the company and its employees.””

Founded in 1973, Osborne Industries designs and manufactures innovative livestock equipment for the management of swine operations. Osborne’s products include systems in support of animal genetics, market sorting, temperature-controlled heating pads and big wheel feeders. The company is recognized in the industry for its design capabilities and creative use of engineered plastics.

Osborne began exporting in 1979, and today, the company’s products can be found in 39 countries. Exports account for 24 percent of total company sales and have grown 73 percent in the past three years, including a 37 percent increase from 2008-09. The company maintains offices in the United Kingdom and China and operates a 24-hour hotline in support of excellent customer service.

The Kansas Department of Commerce will begin accepting nominations for the 2011 Exporter of the Year in December. Visit www.KansasCommerce.com for details.

For details, contact:

Joe Monaco, Public Information Officer

Kansas Department of Commerce (785) 296-3760 jmonaco@kansascommerce.com