The awards committee cited PTI’s innovative scientific instrument technologies, adaption of its product line to maintain compliance with international regulations and the company’s contributions to the economy and job growth. PTI said that in 2015 it exported to 37 countries and every content except Antarctica, and that exports directly support over a quarter of jobs at the company’s primary manufacturing facility.
Established in 1969, PTI manufactures and exports lasers for OEM cinema; semiconductor inspection; defense and security; and analytical, biomedical, industrial and machine vision applications.
Biotek received the award for its scientific instrument technologies and business model that emphasizes exports, which account for a significant percentage of the privately held company's annual revenues. Biotek designs, manufactures and sells microplate instrumentation and software for the quantification of molecules in life sciences research, drug discovery and analysis applications.
In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters.