Expansion Plans Announced by Biocatalysts

The Nantgarw based industrial biotechnology company unveiled its five-year development plans during a visit to the facility by Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport.

Sep 30 2010 -- Ambitious plans to increase turnover by up to £6million and create 25 new jobs were announced by Biocatalysts Ltd which manufactures speciality enzymes for the worldwide food industry.

The Nantgarw based industrial biotechnology company unveiled its five-year development plans during a visit to the facility by Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport.

Managing Director Stuart West said they operated in a niche market, exporting 90% of their goods worldwide, and have seen a growth of 25% last year.

The company supplies both off-the-shelf and bespoke products for many of the top ten blue-chip food companies in the world and its expansion will be driven by a major push into contract manufacturing for third parties.

Biocatalysts’ largest markets are in Europe and the USA but it is also making significant inroads into other markets including Eastern Europe and the Far East which has enabled its continuous growth despite the recession.

Mr West said their growth and future expansion plans were the result of investing and moving into their current purpose designed premises six years ago which was supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The company has also benefited from the Assembly Government’s workforce development programme and international trade support.

"We were unable to expand in our old premises which severely restricted our growth and production capacity. Our current facility is ten times larger and since the move we have doubled staff numbers, now employ forty people and turnover has more than doubled and the plan is to increase this by up to £6m within the next five years," he said.

“We now have the capacity to produce much larger quantities of products in state of the art powder blending facilities which enables us to accommodate the specialist requirements of our customers, many of which have been with us for twenty years.” Leuan Wyn Jones said the bioscience sector had been identified in the Assembly Government’s recently launched Economic Renewal strategy as one of the key sectors in Wales with potential for significant growth.

“It’s good news to hear that a Welsh company is planning ambitious growth over the next few years that will result in new high quality jobs while its exports will help boost the Welsh economy and I am pleased support from the Assembly Government has assisted this growth. “It is also interesting to hear that Biocatalysts Ltd has been able to side step the effects of the recession through a carefully targeted export strategy which illustrates the importance of expanding into new markets and trading internationally.”

The company invests significantly in research and development, employing a team of nine people in this area and also supplies to the dietetics and pharmaceutical industries.
The privately owned company employs fifteen agents overseas and is currently considering opening an overseas office in USA.

Biocatalysts is sponsoring the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology in Scotland and also jointly sponsoring the prestigious Association of Enzyme Manufacturer and Producers Annual Conference in October 2011. The company are regular exhibitors at two key trade events - Food Ingredients Europe and the Institute of Food Technologists Expo in USA.