FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Ohio's strong exporting industry relies on the vision, tenacity, and innovation of its individual exporting businesses, large and small. Governor Ted Strickland today honored 24 of those Ohio businesses with the 2008 Governor's Excellence in Exporting award for superior performance in exporting and contributions to Ohio's economy. Strickland announced the winners at an awards ceremony this afternoon at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium in Columbus.

"Ohio is the eighth-largest exporting state in the country, a distinction largely due to economic partners like our 2008 Excellence in Exporting winners," said Strickland. "I want to thank them for their hard work and commitment to success and their contributions to keeping Ohio's economy strong and competitive."

Since 1986 the Governor's Excellence in Exporting Awards program has recognized companies and organizations of all sizes that have shown superior performance in exporting or heightened awareness of exporting as a vital component of the State's economy.

In the past the Exporter of the Year award went to one Ohio company that exemplified the State's commitment to international trade. This year is the first year the program honors an Exporter of the Year in a Small & Medium Business and a Large Business category. The winners include Select Sires, located in Plain City (Union County) for Small & Medium Business Exporter of the Year, and The Lincoln Electric Company, located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) for Large Business Exporter of the Year.

"Ohio has a distinguished reputation for being a national leader in exporting," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "These winners today show the many opportunities businesses of all sizes and industries have to succeed in Ohio."

Select Sires utilizes the most aggressive technology to offer frozen bovine semen along with companion products and services. Select Sires primarily exports its frozen semen products (conventional bovine semen and gender SELECTed semen) outside the United States. Select Sires also sells companion management products abroad including estrus detection tail marking paint, microbial feed additives and a line of elite teat dips and udder care products.

Lincoln Electric is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and occupies a leading global position on the brazing and soldering alloys market. Lincoln has 38 manufacturing locations, including operations, manufacturing alliances and joint ventures in 20 countries, and a worldwide network of distributor and sales offices covering more than 160 countries.

Ohio is the eighth-largest exporting state and is the only state with exports that have increased every year since 1998. In 2007, Ohio companies exported $42.4 billion in goods, an increase of 11.1 percent over 2006.

See below a complete list of the 2008 Governor's Excellence in Exporting Award winners:

Small & Medium Business Exporter of the Year
Select Sires, Inc.: Plain City (Union County)

Large Business Exporter of the Year
The Lincoln Electric Company: Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)

Bellisio Foods, Inc.: Jackson (Jackson County)
BSI Industries, Inc.: Gahanna (Franklin County)
Cauffiel Technologies Corporation: Toledo (Lucas County)
Cincinnati Sub-Zero Medical Division: Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Columbia Chemical Corporation: Brunswick (Medina County)
Hartzell Propeller Inc.: Piqua (Miami County)
International Trade Assistance Center, Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium: Kent (Portage County)
Kinetico Incorporated: Newbury (Geauga County)
Krendl Machine Company: Delphos (Allen County)
Malco Products, Inc.: Barberton (Summit County)
Mark Andy, Inc.: Milford (Clermont County)
Miller Weldmaster Corporation: Navarre (Stark County)
Rolls-Royce Energy Systems, Inc.: Mt. Vernon (Knox County)
seepex, Inc.: Enon (Clark County)
Super Systems Inc.: Cincinnati (Hamilton County)
Tedia Company, Inc.: Fairfield (Butler County)
Ventech Solutions Inc.: Columbus (Delaware County)
Vita-Mix Corporation: Cleveland (Cuyahoga County)
Wayne-Dalton Corp.: Mt. Hope (Holmes County)
The Western States Machine Company: Hamilton (Butler County)
The Will-Burt Company, Towermast Division: Orrville (Wayne County)
YSI Incorporated: Yellow Springs (Greene County)

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Media contacts: Kelly Schlissberg at 614.466.4133 or Kimber Perfect at 614.466.2609