DERBY, UK – Catalyst provider Catexel is expanding into Manchester, UK — the current European City of Science 2016 — with a new operational hub.

The team has taken office space in Piccadilly, Manchester, as part of a period of rapid growth within the company, having recently taken on a new Business Development Manager, a Laboratory Technician and four interns.

With its headquarters in Derby, UK, and a laboratory facility in Leiden in the Netherlands, Catexel is committed to pioneering innovation in transition metal-based oxidation catalysis, developing new technologies that are used in industrial processes to make them cleaner, faster and safer.

Through its IP and technology platforms based on iron and manganese compounds, Catexel has delivered commercial value and made significant breakthroughs for issues that industry faces. Catexel’s catalyst portfolio extends into the textiles, coatings and detergents sectors for use in global manufacturing, with many more untapped markets in the pipeline.

Paul Smith, CEO at Catexel, commented, “Manchester was a natural choice for us to open an operational office — it’s widely recognized as a scientific hub in the UK — particularly given the city’s current reign as European City of Science 2016. As we have a global partner base, access to Manchester Airport is also hugely beneficial, particularly as our main lab is in the Netherlands and most of our customers are based further afield.

“This new commercial center of excellence allows the team to grow and continue to innovate in the chemicals sector. Extending the commercial side of the business is important at this time, as we expand our catalyst offering and start mapping out the new markets, such as water treatment, radical polymerization and anti-microbials.”