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	Gala Industries Celebrates Its 2007 International Technology Exchange Gala Industries Inc. hosted its first ever International Technology Exchange during the week of April 16-20 at the Hotel Roanoke. Gala invited its independent representatives to Virginia for a week long conference to discuss technological issues and international strategy of the plastic pellet industry. Representatives from Germany, UK, France, The Netherlands, Italy, China, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Korea met with Gala’s sales and service department along with employees from engineering and production to build closer relationships. This event was the first opportunity for many company employees to get to know the international people that are promoting their world-class plastic pellet machinery manufactured in Botetourt County. Gala had considered bringing together their international representatives for a number of years and decided that the time was right to organize the event as international trade is a key to their long-term success. The independent representatives, partnering with Gala for as little as 18 months and as long as 30 years, recognized the value of this type of exchange so they made time in their schedules and paid their own way to the event. The 5 days of meetings were very well structured focusing on key components of their industry, including pelletizing systems, micropellets, electrical controls, water systems, dryers, adhesives, resins, thermoplastic polyurethanes and ultimately global market strategies. The representatives attended conferences each morning at Hotel Roanoke and then the day continued at the Gala Industries lab each afternoon for demonstrations showing the newest of equipment and technology offered by Gala. This week long event was also a chance for the international representatives to get to know each other and discuss the market risks and opportunities in their region. During a visit with Gala Industries in December, Joe Robinson, the VEDP International Trade Manager, learned of the “Gala Event” and realized an opportunity to support a local company. A welcome letter from the Governor was proposed and the International Trade Division easily drafted a dozen reasons why Gala was deserving of the recognition. Gala’s export sales managers, Steve Cahoon and Don Smith were grateful for the letter and the opportunity to have met Governor Kaine at the Virginia Conference on World Trade last October. Mario Camardella, International Marketing Specialist, attended the final day’s meetings and presented Governor Kaine’s letter to the company at the closing dinner. Gala Industries, Inc., an employee-owned company, was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Eagle Rock, Virginia. Throughout its history it has remained focused on pellet production technology for the plastics industry and has been committed to customer satisfaction and unsurpassed technical support. Gala demonstrated a commitment to its international business through its participation in and graduation from the VALET (Virginia Leaders in Export Trade) Program in July 2006.