A SWADLINCOTE engineering firm has been shortlisted for a national award which recognises manufacturing excellence.

Greenbank Group has been named as one of 20 finalists in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2009.

Greenbank, in Hartshorne Road, is one of six Midlands firms with a chance of winning an award.

The company has enjoyed success over the past few years after developing technology that can improve the efficiency of coal-fired power stations.

Judges from the Government's Manufactory Advisory Service, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Warwick Manufacturing Group and other experts will visit each firm to select the winners, who will be announced on June 25.

Chris Hibbs, manufacturing leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Despite the most challenging economic conditions, these companies are proving to be successful.

"We are proud to support such a key initiative and see companies celebrated in difficult times."

Each finalist will receive a free Benchmark Report, worth up to £20,000, which gives them advice on how and where to improve performance.