Pa. companies receive award for exports

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Two Mercer County companies have been named recipients of the 2001 Governor's Export Excellence Awards, which recognize Pennsylvania businesses that send their goods and services around the world.
FORTA Corp. of Grove City and Reynolds Services Inc. of Greenville were among 21 companies selected for this year's honor for opening new markets and shaping new alliances that have made Pennsylvania a major player on the world economic stage.
The awards were presented by Samuel McCullough, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, on behalf of Gov. Tom Ridge in a ceremony in Pittsburgh Wednesday.
FORTA Corp. manufactures synthetic fiber for concrete reinforcement, and its product has been used in the construction of projects ranging from airports and schools to swimming pools and tennis courts.
Its product can be found in Israel, Egypt, Japan, Romania, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Australia.
Reynolds Services Inc. produces tin mill products as well as galvanized and cold rolled steel, and just began exporting in 1999.
Now, 11 percent of its total sales come from exports to customers in Argentina, Uruguay and Columbia, and it is looking at expanding into other South American countries as well as the Middle East and Fiji.
Pennsylvania exports in 2000 totaled $25 billion, a 22 percent increase from 1999, ranking it 10th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the total value of exports.