(Spirit Lake)– A special honor for a Spirit Lake manufacturer of medical products.
Brown Medical Industries was presented Wednesday with an Export Achievement Certificate from the U-S Commerce Department. It recognizes companies that have benefited from the department’s U-S Commercial Service export assistance.
Fifth District Congressman Steve King was on hand for Wednesday’s ceremony. He emphasized the importance companies such as Brown Medical play not only in the local and national economies, but the worldwide economy as well. He says Brown Medical is a perfect example of what needs to be done to help offset the U-S’s negative trade balance.
Brown Medical reported total 2004 export sales increased 38 percent from 2003. Exports now represent 29 percent of the company’s total sales. And company President Ivan Brown says those numbers continue to grow. He cites huge increases in products the company is shipping to places like Europe, the Pacific Rim, South America and the Middle East.
But Brown says there much more to the success story than just the numbers. He attributes it to the company’s employees.
Brown Medical was founded in 1965. The company began exporting products to foreign countries in 1972.
