Tennant Company Receives Cleantech Award at the 2008 Tekne Awards

Tekne Awards celebrate Minnesota’s technology innovators and innovations

Tennant Company Receives Cleantech Award at the 2008 Tekne Awards

TEKNE EM innovations and innovators technology Minnesota’s celebrate Awards

Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 4, 2008 – Tennant Company has been named the recipient of the Cleantech Award at the 2008 Tekne Awards, which were held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Oct. 30. The Tekne Awards honor superior technology advancement and leadership in Minnesota.

One of two new awards in 2008, the Cleantech Award recognizes businesses that manufacture environmentally sound products or solutions that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution. Tennant Company was recognized for its floor-cleaning technology, ec-H2O™, that bypasses the environmental footprint associated with processing, transporting, packaging and disposing of conventional chemical cleaning products. ec-H2O floor technology requires no chemicals in the cleaning process and use 70 percent less water than traditional machines.

“Tennant Company is committed to creating environmentally conscious solutions for our customers,” said Chris Killingstad, President and CEO, Tennant Company. “It is a tremendous honor for this commitment to be recognized with this inaugural award by the MHTA.”

The Tekne Awards, presented by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) in partnership with Enterprise Minnesota and LifeScience Alley, annually recognize Minnesota’s leading technology users and innovators. Tekne Award recipients represent a collection of industry leaders advancing Minnesota’s status as a hub for technology innovation.

“This year’s recipients are outstanding examples of innovation and leadership,” said Kate Rubin, president, MHTA.  “Tennant Company is helping to secure Minnesota’s place as a center of innovation in the global economy.”

Judges selected one recipient out of the three finalists in each of 17 Tekne Awards categories recognizing the best and brightest in development, education, commercialization, and management of technology. Company awards included separate categories for small and growing businesses (with annual revenues under $50 million) and established businesses (with annual revenues of $50 million or more). 

This year’s Tekne Awards ceremony was emceed by Kerri Miller, host of Minnesota Public Radio’s “Midmorning” and “Talking Volumes.”  A list of 2008 Tekne Award recipients and finalists is available online at www.tekneawards.org.

About Tennant Company

Minneapolis-based Tennant Company (NYSE:  TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; and specialty surface coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading concrete floors. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant has manufacturing operations in Minneapolis, Minn.; Holland, Mich.; Uden, The Netherlands; the United Kingdom; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China; and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com.

About Minnesota High Tech Association

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) accelerates the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota's technology-based economy through public policy advocacy, member collaboration and education, and community outreach. MHTA is the only membership organization that represents Minnesota’s entire technology-based economy. MHTA members include organizations of every size − involved in virtually every aspect of technology creation, production, application and education in Minnesota. MHTA works in partnership with AeA, which represents Minnesota's technology organizations nationally. Find out more online at www.mhta.org.

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