News / Biotechnology Company Chooses York for New...
Biotechnology Company Chooses York for New European Office
MatriCal Inc., a leading American supplier of laboratory instrumentation and consumables to the life sciences and pharmaceutical research market, with applications in cancer treatment and disease diagnosis, has opened a new office at Northminster Business Park in York, to meet the growing demand for its products in Europe and the UK. Led by UK Director and biophysicist Dermot Boylan, MatriCal EU Limited will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the full range of MatriCal products to the UK and European markets as well as providing an installation and support service to customers from its York base.
Established in 2000 in Spokane, Washington, USA, MatriCal specialises in the development and production of unique sample management products for large pharmaceutical companies, with the capability to store millions of samples in perfectly controlled conditions. The company has recently experienced a 54% increase in revenue from $4.2 million to $6.5 million due to a new product launched last year, the Matri MiniStore, and the anticipated sales from an updated version of its MatriStore due to be launched later this year. Sales turnover in the UK and Europe will add to this and is expected to reach $2 million by the end of 2006.
MatriCal identified York as an ideal location to open its new European office and york-england.com, the inward investment agency for York and North Yorkshire, helped the company find suitable premises. As well as general office facilities, the site at Northminster Business Park will also house a demonstration room where clients will be able to see a range of the MatriCal products on offer, including the SonicMan, a high- throughput sonication instrument used in drug development.
Dermot Boylan said: "We are at a very exciting stage in the development of the company and opening a satellite office in York is proving a great decision. As well as a substantial new order already secured from a company based in France for the MatriStore, we have many more enquiries in the pipeline for the newly launched MiniStore and some of our other products.
York-england.com provided us with a fantastic service in helping us find premises for the new office, plus gave us a wealth of information and advice on local professional service providers which we have subsequently engaged. They also introduced us to the local business community, specifically within the biotech sector, and this in particular is proving invaluable for business networking."
Denise Dodd, Chief Executive of york-england.com commented: "MatriCal EU is a very dynamic company to work with and we are sure they will have great success with their new satellite office here in York. Their highly specialist products are in great demand from international pharmaceutical companies and we are delighted to welcome them as a significant new member of the local biotech community."
Dr. Deborah Girdlestone, Business Promoter, Science City York said: "The fact that this rapidly expanding and highly respected company has chosen York as its European base further endorses the leading role the city is developing in the bioscience sector, not just in the UK but worldwide. As more and more bioscience organisations and specialists are attracted to York and the sector continues to develop, it generates opportunities for employment and business growth, which I am sure will also benefit MatriCal."
MatriCal EU Ltd. is currently recruiting for a UK sales person and a field service engineer, and anticipate more vacancies will be created as the company grows. As well as the sales, marketing and product support services currently being offered by MatriCal EU, plans are also underway to eventually start a warehousing and delivery service for its consumables to its UK and European customers from the York base.
