Minister for Trade and Industry David Cretney has been to CVI Technical Optics in Onchan to congratulate the staff on their recent achievements.

As well as being awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in April, the firm also produced components for the Phoenix Mars Lander which successfully touched down on the Red Planet earlier in the month.

The minister, accompanied on his tour by the CVI Technical Optics general manager, offered his warmest congratulations to everyone involved with the firm.

He said: 'I am delighted that your hard work and innovative products have resulted in the Queens Award for Enterprise. The recent successful landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander further enhances the company’s reputation and proves that manufacturing in the Isle of Man is thriving and competing successfully on an international level'.

(Picture: CVI Technical Optics' manufacturing site in Onchan, from cvi-tol.co.uk).