Connie Loughhead, President of Heatex America accepting the Virginia Vanguard for Top Manufacturer from Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. (picture by Robert Loughhead)

Heatex America was recognized at the annual Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 Awards Banquet last month. They are one of five companies to receive the Virginia Vanguard award for top manufacturer. The FANTASTIC 50 recognizes leading and growing businesses in Virginia. Heatex, located in Rockbridge County, is an internal climate control manufacturer.

Here is a press release from Heatex America.

Richmond, VA—The Virginia Chamber announced the names of fifty of the fastest growing Virginia companies at the seventeenth annual Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 Awards Banquet on April 26 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly. Nearly 400 attendees at the ceremony saluted the winners for their entrepreneurial success and contribution to Virginia’s economy.

A highlight of the awards banquet was Heatex America receiving the Virginia Vanguard for Top Manufacturer.

The evening’s keynote speaker, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, gave an inspirational address recognizing the pivotal role of small businesses and entrepreneurs in growing Virginia’s economy. “Each of these companies has contributed significantly to the tremendous economic growth we have seen in Virginia over the past two years. Small businesses are responsible for most of the 119,800 net new jobs that we have created. It is important that we recognize these businesses for the contribution they have made to Virginia’s economy, and I applaud the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for doing so.”

Connie Loughhead, President of Heatex America accepted the Vanguard award and stated, “ It has been an exciting few years for Heatex, what started out as a one person operation in 2004 has now grown into a multi – million dollar operation with 40,000 sqft of manufacturing in Virginia and sales for North, Central, and Latin America.

The Heatex team is world class; I’m surrounded by highly motivated and dedicated employees. I have also been fortunate to establish my business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Heatex has had tremendous support from the county representatives of Rockbridge County and support at the state level from the Workforce Investment program.”

“Heatex’ innovative products and leadership for the energy recovery industry aligns with Governor McDonnell’s initiative for the Commonwealth of Virginia to be the “Energy Capital of the East Coast”; as energy recovery and new sources of energy are being explored and pushed across the Americas by consumer demand, state and federal legislation Heatex America has become an invaluable partner to those companies that are leading the way into our energy future.”

About the Awards—Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 award program is a signature event of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The FANTASTIC 50 awards recognize leading businesses across the Commonwealth in all types of industries, and are the only statewide awards of this type in Virginia. Nominations for the 2012 FANTASTIC 50 were sought last fall from local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and through the sponsors’ networks; companies may also nominate themselves.

To be eligible, a company must be privately held with headquarters in Virginia, show sales between $200,000 and $100 million, and demonstrate positive revenue growth and positive net income in its most recent fiscal year over the previous year. Companies are judged on four-year sales revenue history.

INFORMATION ABOUT HEATEX
Heatex America is a subsidiary of Heatex AB Sweden, a leading innovator within the air-to-air heat exchanger industry. With global manufacturing facilities located in Sweden, Czech Republic, China, and the United States, their knowledge of air-to-air heat exchangers enables sophisticated development, design, and manufacturing solutions for improving internal climate control within a diverse range of applications around the world. Heatex products are built on automated production lines, ensuring consistency, high quality together with short lead times, while saving costs.

Among the company’s recent innovations has been the development of a cooling solution for renewable energy applications.