Lancaster firm flies high with second Queen's Award

Rinicom also received the Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2013.

The award, which is based on a recommendation from the Prime Minister, is one of the highest accolades that businesses and individuals in the UK can receive. The winners are announced each year on April 21 as part of the Queen’s birthday celebrations.

Winners will be invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and receive their award at a prestigious ceremony.

Rinicom CEO, Prof Garegin Markarian, said: “We are overwhelmed and honoured to have received the Queen’s Award for the second time. It is an amazing achievement for us, as well as recognition for all the hard work our team have put in over the past few years.

“As a company, we continue to push ourselves to the limit in order to produce innovative proprietary technology. We see this award as a credit for the future and an extra token of confidence for our clients and customers.”

Rinicom is a research and development-focused company, working closely with Lancaster University and in partnership with key companies in order to implement innovative solutions.

Set up in 2002, Rinicom grew organically, with no investment from outside companies. They have gained recognition as a leading SME company, providing bespoke telecommunications solutions to law-enforcement agencies, first responders and professional security companies. Their most successful products include the world’s smallest integrated miniature transmitter, a self-healing mesh radio, various novel and unique video surveillance cameras and, more recently, an optical drone detection system, known as ‘SkyPatriot’.

The SkyPatriot has been created to help combat air traffic disruption and safety hazards caused by the unauthorised use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) such as drones.

UAVs are increasingly causing disruption and potentially serious incidents at airports, as well as being used to smuggle drugs and weapons into prisons.

The SkyPatriot is capable of detecting, locating and tracking UAVs and then neutralising the threat.

Over the last four years, Rinicom has worked closely with multiple law enforcement agencies throughout Europe to develop, test and validate emergency and community focused software platforms and mobile applications to improve communication and collaboration, prevent crime, build trust, increase accountability, and support large and small-scale disasters.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise British business excellence.

To receive and award in the International Trade category, a company must demonstrate consistent growth over six consecutive 12-month periods, to a level which is outstanding for the products and services concerned and for the size of the organisation.

The internationally recognised seal of approval gives overseas customers reassurance that they are working with an established and reputable business, with the highest levels of excellence, offering quality services or products.

Rinicom Ltd operates throughout the world, including in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, India, Singapore and Ukraine.

Morecambe & Lunesdale MP David Morris said: “I am absolutely delighted that Rinicom have again been recommended for such a prestigious award. Rinicom are an extremely innovative company who seem to be able to adapt to any challenges that need to be met. This latest project to combat the risk from drone usage is an extremely useful one executed at a time when drone use is causing a huge worry for air traffic controllers.”

Rinicom CEO, Prof Garegin Markarian, is also a professor at Lancaster University. Many of the long-term employees of Rinicom are graduates of the University.

With more than 30 employees working for the company, plus a supply chain to other local companies, Rinicom is dedicated to creating jobs in the Lancaster area.