The Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Tulsa Small Business Connection has named Vacuworx as the recipient of its 2019 Manufacturer of the Year award. This is the first time Vacuworx has been honored with this award.
Vacuworx, a global supplier of vacuum lifting technology, has been engaged in the manufacture and export of heavy-duty material handling systems since its establishment in 1999. The company, celebrating 20 years of industry building accomplishments, was founded on the idea that there was a safer way to lift and maneuver oil and gas pipe.
The current lineup of Vacuworx lifting systems consists of seven different product series, each with unique applications in various markets such as oil and gas, water and sewer, mining, concrete construction, highway and heavy construction. With lifting capacities ranging from 1,700 lb to 55,000 lb, they can handle virtually any material on any job.
Along with a nomination, there were specific criteria that had to be met to be considered for the 2019 Manufacturer of the Year award. The main criteria looked at were an increase in sales or profits, growth in employment, as well as maintaining exportation to overseas markets for the previous three years. Nominees were judged on effective solutions to overcoming market-entry and logistical challenges, and for their support of small businesses entering the export arena.
Vacuworx has invested heavily in laying the groundwork for continued strategic expansion and diversification into emerging markets and geographies while championing the industries it serves. Operating domestically and internationally, it has an established network throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Today, Vacuworx products can be found in over 30 countries. The implementation of a creative overseas marketing strategy has allowed the company to develop a deeper understanding of the impact and potential of new vacuum lifting solutions and material handling applications worldwide.
Vacuworx nearly doubled its workforce between 2016 and 2019, growing to employ more than 60 people. Recent expansions of Vacuworx sales and service territories, among the addition of alternative resources, lend credibility to the manufacturer’s market responsiveness as safety and customer satisfaction top a list of priorities that includes keeping pace with rapidly increasing demand.
Bill Solomon, president of Vacuworx, accepted the 2019 Manufacturer of the Year award on his company’s behalf during an award luncheon at the Tulsa Small Business Summit on October 24, 2019.
Vacuworx was previously honored, in both 2014 and 2017, as a recipient of the Oklahoma Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting.