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Five North East companies celebrate prestigious King’s Awards for Enterprise

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The North East winners include Palintest, Express Engineering Group, Inflo Group, Openworks Engineering and Forfusion

Express Engineering group includes sites on Tyneside and in Middlesbrough.

Craig Swinhoe, chief executive officer of Express Engineering (left) and Chris Thompson, chairman.(Image: Express Engineering Group)

A handful of North East businesses are among those in the UK to be handed King’s Awards for Enterprise.

The prestigious awards, now in their 60th year, are rigorously judged and single out outstanding businesses from across the UK and Channel Islands for their contribution to economic growth and improving lives. They span the categories of international trade, innovation, sustainability and promoting opportunity.

The North East firms are this year among 186 recipients, representing a broad range of sectors. Regional winners include Gateshead-based electrochemical water testing firm Palintest, their Team Valley neighbours and subsea equipment maker Express Engineering Group, North Shields-based audit software business Inflo Group, Prudhoe-based drone capture tech creator Openworks Engineering and IT specialist Forfusion, based at Cobalt Park.

Express Engineering Group, which includes Express Engineering in Gateshead and QA Weld Tech in Middlesbrough, was recognised in the International Trade category for outstanding short-term growth. The maker of precision-engineered equipment for the offshore industry was founded in 1973 by the late Keith Thompson and has grown into a £60m turnover business employing about 330 highly skilled people across seven advanced manufacturing facilities in Gateshead and Middlesbrough.

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Chris Thompson, chairman of Express Engineering Group, said: “I have dedicated more than 50 years to this business, and growing the company my father founded into a world-leading exporter has been an immense privilege. This King’s Award is a testament to our people, from those team members who have been with us for decades to the talented apprentices who are the future of our trade.

“Our growth has always been built on a foundation of technical expertise and a global reputation for excellence. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I know that the business is in a stronger position than ever to continue flying the flag for North East engineering on the world stage.”

The SkyWall counter drone technology, made by OpenWorks in Northumberland

The SkyWall counter drone technology, made by OpenWorks in Northumberland

Openworks was founded in 2015 by five friends who shared a passion for engineering. The Prudhoe firm now employs 100 people who help produce its range of products for detection, tracking, identification and targeting of threats such as drones and uncrewed vessels. The Prudhoe-based business was recognised in the international trade category for its global reach, with exports accounting for about 90% of its sales.

Chris Down, chief executive officer at OpenWorks Engineering, said: “OpenWorks has scaled rapidly in the last three years to meet global demand for systems that can detect, track, identify and effectively target nuisance and malicious drones. Receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise in the international trade category is a huge achievement and a great honour; it recognises our team’s dedication to developing and supporting solutions that make a real difference to NATO and its allies.

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“I’m really proud of what we’ve all achieved together, and of what we continue to build to provide enhanced situational awareness through AI to defence and security forces. Exporting isn’t straightforward, but it has certainly exposed us to many different forces that have built strength and experience into OpenWorks.”

Water testing innovator Palintest won an award in the Innovation category for its Kemio sensors. The Gateshead-developed technology was launched in 2019 and is the product of three years of in-house research and development. It is now used in more than 30 countries, in locations such as food production sites in the UK to naval vessels in Australia and desalination plants in Qatar. The method simplifies a previously complex process and delivers results in about a minture.

The firm’s research and development manager Kevin McDermott, who led the development programme, said: “Kemio is a Gateshead success story—developed entirely in the North East and now trusted worldwide in safety‑critical applications. Above all, it stands as a major achievement for Palintest’s engineering and scientific teams, whose skill, dedication, and collaboration made it possible.”

Steven Forrest, CEO of Forfusion.

Steven Forrest, CEO of Forfusion.(Image: Supplied by Aoife Forbes of Different Narrative)

Technology and IT business Forfusion was successful in the Promoting Opportunity category for its work in developing talent and its support of Armed Forces personnel. The North Tyneside firm’s Civilian Work Attachment scheme helps ex-forces people transition into civilian employment, giving them hands-on experience across technical and operational teams, along with mentoring and career support.

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Steven Forrest, chief executive officer and founder at Forfusion, said: “Receiving a King’s Award for Enterprise is a moment of real pride for everyone at Forfusion. Being recognised for how we champion opportunity, particularly through our work supporting veterans into civilian careers, reflects our belief that innovation and growth are strongest when people come first.

“We’ve built this business in the North East, and we’re proud that it now operates nationally while continuing to create meaningful pathways for talent to thrive across the sector. We’re proud of the business we’ve built, and we’re just as proud of the people who make it what it is.”

Inflo senior team, left to right: Grant Cooper, Mark Edmondson, Tom Gatherecole and Graham Clark

Inflo senior team, left to right: Grant Cooper, Mark Edmondson, Tom Gatherecole and Graham Clark(Image: Inflo Group)

Inflo Group – recognised in the International Trade category – was founded in 2016 by four experienced auditors who saw a gap in the market to simplify processes for other auditors. The North Shields firm is active in the US market with its product that aims to automate more of the audit process and allow professionals to concentrate on value-adding activities.

Blair McDougall, minister for Small Businesses and Economic Transformation said: “A huge congratulations to every business receiving awards this year, who once again have illustrated the best of British innovation and talent. These awards show that right across the UK, there are small businesses that are thriving, growing and succeeding and it’s only right that we champion these successes.”

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Target recalls popular baby wipes after FDA finds potentially harmful bacteria

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Target recalls popular baby wipes after FDA finds potentially harmful bacteria

Target is recalling several Up & Up baby wipes products sold nationwide after testing identified potentially dangerous bacteria that could cause serious infections, particularly in infants and young children.

According to a recall notice posted Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Target is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes following customer complaints about product discoloration.

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FDA testing identified the presence of Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli in samples of the affected wipes.

Health officials warned that products contaminated with the bacteria could lead to serious and potentially life-threatening infections. The wipes are primarily used on newborns, infants and young children, a group considered particularly vulnerable because of their developing immune systems.

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Target fragrance free baby wipes

Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes sold at Target stores nationwide are included in a voluntary recall announced June 2026. (FDA / Unknown)

The FDA said healthy individuals who use the contaminated wipes on skin with minor cuts or abrasions may develop localized infections. However, infections in immunocompromised individuals, newborns and infants could spread into the bloodstream and potentially cause sepsis or pneumonia.

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The recalled wipes were manufactured by supplier Sapro Temizlik Urunleri and sold at Target stores nationwide as well as through Target.com.

Target and the manufacturer have received a number of consumer complaints and adverse event reports alleging product discoloration and symptoms including skin irritation, eye irritation and infections that may be linked to use of the wipes. The reports remain under investigation.

A representative for Target did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

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Cucumber scented baby wipes from Target

A three-pack of Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes is shown. Target is recalling certain baby wipes products after FDA testing identified potentially harmful bacteria in product samples. (FDA / Unknown)

The recall affects multiple sizes of Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes, including 20-count, 72-count, 216-count, 800-count and 1,200-count packages, as well as Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes sold in 72-count, 216-count and 800-count packages.

Consumers are being urged to stop using the recalled wipes immediately and return them to any Target store for a full refund.

Target said customers seeking additional information can contact Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680.

The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Target said it is continuing to investigate the matter in coordination with the manufacturer.

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According to the FDA, the affected Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes were manufactured between Nov. 7, 2025, and May 5, 2026, and carry expiration dates ranging from May 10, 2028, through Nov. 5, 2028.

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The recalled Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes were manufactured between Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, 2025, and carry expiration dates ranging from June 29, 2028, through June 30, 2028.

A complete list of affected UPCs, manufacturing codes and package sizes is available in the FDA recall notice.

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Tim Goodnow
President, CEO & Director

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We also made the decision as part of that transition in the last year that the primary issue for growth with Eversense in a highly competitive market, but a very attractive market really had to

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Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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