A HARTLEBURY-based company is in the running for a national award for Britain's best businesses in engineering.

Air Tube Conveyors has been shortlisted in the UK Manufacturing Excellence Awards (MX) 2008 category for financial management.

The firm employs 49 people at Hartlebury Trading Estate, where it develops, manufactures and installs solutions to improve productivity and security in on-site cash management, document and sample transfer.

Twenty companies have been shortlisted in the awards scheme, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Among contenders are Rolls Royce and Perkins.

Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, patron of the MX Awards and UK manufacturing guru, said: "The global competitiveness of UK manufacturing companies is vital to the economic success of our country so I am delighted to support MX, which celebrates the best in industry. The 20 shortlisted firms are the best in UK business."

Judges from the Government's Manufactory Advisory Service (MAS), PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Warwick Manufacturing Group and other leading experts will tour the country assessing the shortlisted firms to select the winners, which will be announced on June 26.

There are 13 awards up for grabs and the shortlisted businesses were chosen from 108 entrants.

One of the judges, David Wright, MAS West Midlands chief executive, said: "The UK's best performing manufacturers are innovative, vibrant and reporting that they are extremely busy.

"This is reflected in the firms shortlisted for an MX Award and all firms expect increased turnover in the next year.

"MX is all about sharing best practice and this has never been more important for manufacturers concerned about international competition, the global credit crunch, rising energy costs and a shortage of skilled staff."