LATROBE, Pa., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today that it has been selected among IDG's CIO magazine's CIO 100 Awards for the second consecutive year. The annual award recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology.

Building on last year's recognition for its revolutionary knowledge database called NOVO(TM), Kennametal this year received recognition for its progressive cloud-based solution called NOVO Optimize. Developed to address the critical need for improved productivity and process knowledge for manufacturing companies, NOVO Optimize utilizes "Big Data" analytics to provide digital business intelligence in manufacturing processes, operations and machine utilization.

"We are honored to be recognized by the CIO 100 for the second consecutive year for our innovations in delivering business value to our enterprise and customers," said Steven Hanna, vice president and chief information officer. "Thanks to great collaboration between diverse cross-functional teams we have been able to apply our institutional knowledge and expertise to deliver a breakthrough digital technology that gives customers on-demand tooling advice, helps address the skills gap and prepares for a new age of getting work done in manufacturing."

Every year, the CIO 100 Awards honor companies for delivering leading-edge IT practices and measurable results in innovative ways. The process for being chosen among the 100 best companies is systematic and very competitive and considers the creativity, depth and breadth of the companies' practices against other candidates.

"For 28 years now, the CIO 100 awards have honored the innovative use of technology to deliver genuine business value," said Maryfran Johnson, Editor in Chief of CIO magazine & Events. "Our 2015 winners are an outstanding example of the transformative power of IT to drive everything from revenue growth to competitive advantage."

Kennametal will be recognized at The CIO 100 Symposium and Awards Ceremony on Aug. 11 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

About Kennametal:
Celebrating more than 75 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments. The company provides innovative wear-resistant products, application engineering and services backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40% globally from innovations introduced in the past five years. Recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" (Ethisphere); "Outstanding Corporate Innovator" (Product Development Management Association); and "America's Safest Companies" (EHS Today) with a focus on 100% safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere.

About CIO:
CIO is the premier content and community resource for information technology executives and leaders thriving and prospering in this fast-paced era of IT transformation in the enterprise. The award-winning CIO portfolio--CIO.com, CIO magazine (launched in 1987), CIO executive programs, CIO strategic marketing solutions, CIO Forum on LinkedIn, CIO Executive Council and CIO primary research--provides business technology leaders with analysis and insight on information technology trends and a keen understanding of IT's role in achieving business goals. Additionally, CIO provides opportunities for IT solution providers to reach this executive IT audience. The CIO Executive Council is a professional organization of CIOs created to serve as an unbiased and trusted peer advisory group. CIO is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, events, and research company.

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SOURCE Kennametal Inc.