A GO-AHEAD company feted for its export expertise at last year's Guardian Business Awards has been busy proving its reputation in 2002-03.

Last summer TAB Refractory, run by brothers Simon and Paul Taberham, walked away with the Export Achievement Award after completing a number of successful contracts in South Africa and seeing European trading blossom.

TAB has won a contract to build linings for a can recycling plant in Minnesota.

All of the equipment and formwork will be constructed in Warrington before it is shipped out to Minneapolis.

The company is also establishing a new US office, to join their South African operation.

Other deals in Holland, France, Belgium, Mozamibque, Indonesia and Ghana have taken their overseas contracts total to £3 million in recent times.