Arkansas District Export Council honors 6 companies

The Arkansas District Export Council announced six winners of the 2021 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade.

The awards were presented at a gala banquet on Wednesday, October 13, at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. The event recognized exporters and export service providers, including small, medium, and large enterprises.

The companies this year were selected on a more challenging basis than years past, according to organizers. This year’s criteria included exporters that were able to successfully overcome the economic impacts of the 2020 pandemic and retain at least 95% of their workforce.

The 2021 Governor’s Export Award winners are:

· Large Company – Gerdau, Fort Smith
· Medium Company – Alliance Rubber Company, Hot Springs
· Small Company – ECOJOHN, Inc, North Little Rock
· Rising Star – Leather Brothers, Inc, Conway
· Resilience in Manufacturing — Lycus LTD, LLC, El Dorado
· Innovation and Impact in Manufacturing — Chandler Equipment, Springdale

A brief description of each company is below:

Gerdau, Fort Smith – Gerdau is a major producer of steel products headquartered in Brazil. One of the of the business units of the company is Gerdau Special Steel North America which is comprised of two steel making facilities, one located in Fort Smith.

Alliance Rubber, Hot Springs – Alliance Rubber Co. has been manufacturing banding products at their manufacturing facility in Hot Springs since 1923. Their products are designed to be used in industrial, office, medical and agricultural applications and they sell in over 55 different countries.

ECOJOHN, North Little Rock – ECOJOHN is a manufacturing company that specialize in offering waste management solutions for off-grid, remote, and mobile applications. Their products include efficient waterless incinerating toilets and wastewater incinerators that eliminate the need for a septic tank or dumping black water tanks.

Leather Brothers Inc, Conway – Leather Brothers are third generation leather workers who supply their products, bearing the OmniPet brand name, to a growing network of dealers and distributors worldwide.

Lycus Ltd., El Dorado – Lycus Ltd. is the only domestic manufacturer of certain UV absorbers currently used on the market today. This Arkansas chemical plant is a wholesaler and contract manufacturer serving the world’s leading chemical companies with their ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers for use in plastics, coatings, and personal care applications.

Chandler Equipment Inc., Springdale – The company is a manufacturer of truck accessories to a variety of customer groups in the agriculture, food, oil and gas, and transportation industries. The Chandler family operates within five specific companies that have grown into manufacturing accessories and supplies for the energy industry and providing liquid transportation parts all over the world.

The Arkansas District Export Council is a non-profit organization composed of experienced exporters and businesspeople who regularly provide support services to exporting companies, one of over 60 DECs that exist throughout the country to support the U.S. Government’s export promotion efforts.