Farmington Hills, Michigan, Dec. 2003 - San Diego World Trade Center (SDWTC) celebrated its 26th Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, November 20, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency, La Jolla.

More than 250 members of San Diego's international business community joined SDWTC in "Celebrating Excellence in Trade" as SDWTC presented awards honoring individuals and organizations for their contributions to international trade in the San Diego region.

The exporter of the year award winner was ROMER ...

ROMER Inc. is engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing, measuring equipment used in the automotive, aerospace and general industrial markets. Their products include portable coordinate measuring machines, software and accessories capable of enhancing the measuring volume of products. ROMER is the leader and foremost innovator in portable metrology. Their customers include Ford, GM, Daimler Chrysler, VW, Boeing, Airbus and many others. Over the past three years, ROMER has developed its export sales with enormous success. As domestic sales were continually level, they looked to the international market to grow. One of its biggest challenges as reported by C.E.O. Hank Kraus was in establishing international distribution and to develop and then promote a new brand identity abroad. In 2001, they developed Corporation for export sales and have not looked back. Today over 26 international markets receive products by ROMER and this in turn has generated nine new employees as a direct result of export sales.

"Our innovative designs and commitment to quality has enabled ROMER to double its international business every year for the last four years," Kraus said. "The overseas market represents an ever-increasing portion of our overall business. We are very pleased to receive this award."