12th Jan 2012
With its rich heritage in steelmaking and manufacturing, south Yorkshire is the ideal location for Metalysis, a business that is set to revolutionise the creation of speciality metal alloys using its innovative green technology.
John Healey MP, whose constituency is home to Metalysis, met several of the firms new employees who are contributing to the scale-up of its pioneering technology, the FFC Process.
Metalysis FFC Process is an electrochemical reduction technique that uses less power, generates less waste and takes advantage of sustainable and recyclable materials to produce titanium powder and a range of other high-value metals and alloys. Titanium is one of the worlds most vital metals used in a wide range of high-end technologies, such as healthcare, defence and aerospace.
Metalysis CEO Mark Bertolini walked Mr Healey through the companys facility at Wath-Upon-Dearne, demonstrating how the FFC Process produces titanium. Mr. Healey was introduced to employees that have joined Metalysis thanks in part to funding from Yorkshire Forward to learn first-hand about the commercial opportunities being developed by the firm. These included Debbie Kersey, Chris Stokes and Kartik Rao (pictured far left, second left and far right). The grant is enabling Metalysis to invest in a range of skills, from research scientists and process development engineers to production operatives and sales staff, that are essential to developing global commercial opportunities.
Chris Stokes, formerly commercial director of London Scandinavian Metallurgical Co Ltd, joined Metalysis last month to lead the development of joint ventures and technology licensing agreements. More than 30 companies have already approached Metalysis to exploit its FFC Process.
Debbie Kersey is a shining example of forward-looking management. Initially hired by Metalysis as an office cleaner, Debbies ambitions were rewarded when she successfully applied to be trained as a Lab technician. Debbie, who lives in Wath, now leads a small team in the preparation and post-processing of materials for the FFC Process.
Kartik Rao joined Metalysis in June 2008 and, heads a team of scientists driving the commercialization of a titanium based product. The scientists work closely with the engineers and operations staff to develop the scalability of all aspects of the process from feed preparation to product processing.
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Titanium has been refined in the same, highly inefficient, slow and chemically hazardous way for 70 years. Metalysis has pioneered the FFC Process, an innovative technology that is capable of transforming titanium powder production, making it a more viable, cost effective alternative in more applications.
Mark Bertolini, CEO of Metalysis
Its inspiring to see a business grow from a handful of people a couple of years ago to one that employs more than fifty now, and which is continuing to expand and recruit locally.
The FFC process is nothing short of revolutionary. Its shaking up the speciality metals industry with its lower cost green technology and benefitting substantially from the talent in our region and the strength of the partnerships with Yorkshire Forward and its investors. Its a real success story for Wath and south Yorkshire."
John Healey MP
Metalysis Ltd is the UKs leading technology business for the global manufacture of special metals and alloys. Using the FFC Process, the company has developed an important new technology for producing tantalum, titanium and other metals from the oxide.
Metalysis was named as one of the worlds hundred most promising private clean technology companies in the Global Cleantech 100. All companies in the Global Cleantech 100 were identified for being at the forefront of clean technology innovation and offering solutions to some of the worlds most pressing environmental problems. Metalysis was selected for its innovative FFC Process for producing metals such as titanium, one of the worlds most vital metals used in a wide range of high-end technologies.
The FFC Process works for a vast range of metals, alloys and carbides with significant economic and environmental benefits over existing processes. Metalysis owns the worldwide exclusive exploitation rights to the FFC Process.
The Metalysis business, while focused mainly at present on scaling up its innovative technology, is already supplying low volumes of metallurgical grade powders. From 2010 the company will embark upon the commercialisation of its technology. It expects to see substantially increased sales as its semi-continuous pilot production plant comes on stream. Following successful completion of that two-year project, in its next phase of commercialisation the company will begin competing for volume markets serving such worldwide industries as aerospace, marine, medical, chemical, automotive and electronics.
During the last five years Metalysis has raised £19 million in venture capital and a further £4.8 million in grants. From a workforce of three in 2005, the business now employs 50 people in science and engineering, scale-up and commercial development operations. Metalysis holds 24 patent families, filed in 88 countries.
18th March 2010
Michael Saxton
PR Director
00 44 (0) 207 602 9222
Rafal Kwiatkowski
PR Consultant
00 44 207 602 9222
Short URL: http://prst.co/iu
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