PLYMOUTH pipe manufacturer Pipex Ltd has been shortlisted for five top manufacturing awards.

The Roborough-based manufacturer has been shortlisted for five awards as part of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2011.

The company has been shortlisted for awards in customer focus; people effectiveness; business development and change management; financial management; and sustainable manufacturing.

Assessors and moderators were today due to visit the Pipex plant to see how the firm produces corrosion resistant construction products from thermoplastics and advanced composites.

Colin Brown, the Institution’s director of engineering, said:

“Pipex is a fantastic business that is helping to ensure manufacturing remains at the heart of Plymouth’s economy.

“It is exciting to see a company excelling in so many different areas of its business and we hope the company can inspire more local manufacturers to take part and benefit from the Manufacturing Excellence programme.”

Last year, Pipex won the best SME honour at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

It also picked up the Federation of Small Businesses’ award for environmental responsibility and the West Country Challenge business excellence award.

And in April this year the firm won the best family business section at The Herald’s business awards.

Pipex was established in 1975 by Alan Smith, now company chairman, as a one-man enterprise exporting thermoplastic pipes to the Middle East for pharmaceutical and petrochemical projects.

The company grew and now comprises four engineering companies, also offering design, project management, installation and specialist services.

Its pipe systems, bespoke fabrications and structures are installed in applications from waste water to warships.

Mr Smith’s daughter, Sarah Raynor, is now Pipex’s marketing and communications director, and said “We are very excited to be shortlisted in five categories. When we won the Overall Award for Best SME last year it was really terrific and a huge honour for all of us at Pipex px®. The MX standard carries a lot of kudos in our industry and there is no doubt that winning last year assisted our business in opening up new opportunities and winning new customers, so we are really elated to be shortlisted again.”

Manufacturing Excellence, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is the longest-running manufacturing support programme in the UK. The Manufacturing Excellence Award Ceremony is at the Dorchester in London on November 23.