International demand for infection control solutions and cost-effective manufacturing tools has helped five groundbreaking businesses win prestigious awards at the highly competitive Medical and Healthcare Business Awards 2010, organised by medical technology industry specialist MedilinkWM.

Shining the spotlight on the success of companies within the West Midlands Medical Technologies Cluster, supported by Advantage West Midlands, the five chosen firms will represent the region on the national stage at the Medilink UK Awards in March.

Newtech Ortho, which launched in February 2009, beat off fierce competition to take the top prize for Best New Start-Up. In its first year of trading, the firm is already supplying more than 170 NHS and privately owned hospitals in the UK with cost-effective, quality implant systems. MediFilm UK, which has been working with Derby Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to develop an antimicrobial worktop guide to the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) used by clinical staff, scooped the Award for Partnership with the NHS.

The Award for Innovation goes to ITCM, for its new high-speed enveloping machine, which is revolutionising the packaging of pharmaceutical strip based products and other similar medical products. The innovative solution reduces the cost, time, noise and environmental impact of the packaging process, whilst delivering flexibility in product count with rapid changeover between products.

As living proof that the medical and healthcare sector is bucking the recessionary trend, Dermal Technology Laboratory Ltd has scooped the award for Outstanding Growth. Still just two years old, the company's turnover has increased four-fold, while staff numbers have increased by 50 per cent in the last year, as it works with global pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical companies that require a non-animal method for measuring dermal absorption.

Kimal PLC, which specialises in products for diagnostic and interventional cardiology, radiology, renal disease and oncology, took the gold for Export Achievement, after increasing export sales by more than 25 per cent, achieving outstanding success and gaining certifications in China, Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Hong Kong, Canada and Germany.

MedilinkWM's CEO, Tony Davis, said: "West Midlands companies have seen the real commercial benefits of trading within the Medical Technologies market in the last year, which has nurtured innovation, new product development, international sales growth and thriving start-ups. These awards are dedicated to businesses that have achieved exceptional research, innovation, business success, entrepreneurial flair and growth in the sector and the bar has been raised yet again, so it's an amazing achievement to win."