21 May 09

Metalysis attracts £5.1 million capital investment

The special metals pioneer is successfully commercialising its unique technology, addressing global markets.

Metalysis Ltd has raised a further £5.1 million to scale up its FFC Cambridge Process.  The scale up will initially focus on the production of tantalum and titanium.  All of the company’s current venture capital partners have invested further funds.

“Raising over £5 million in this environment is a significant endorsement of our core technology and the progress that the company has made.  It is also a real endorsement of our management team and the potential of the business,” said Mark Bertolini, chief executive of Metalysis.  

Metalysis owns the global Intellectual Property and commercial exploitation rights to the FFC Cambridge Process which, when compared to conventional technologies, enables a cheaper, less capital intensive and environmentally far more attractive production route to high value metals and alloys.

The South Yorkshire, UK-based company is already supplying low volumes of metallurgical grade powders to its partners and is scaling up its technology to enter both titanium and tantalum markets more significantly in 2010. 

Tantalum and titanium powders are used increasingly in a diverse range of applications for the aerospace, marine, medical, chemical, automotive and electronics industries.

During the last five years Metalysis has raised £19 million in venture capital and a further £4 million in grants. From a workforce of three in 2005, the enterprise now employs 43 people in science and engineering, scale-up and commercial development operations.

The new funding comes from Environmental Technologies Fund along with 3i, Chord Capital, Seven Spires Investments and Cody Gate Ventures.  In addition to providing working capital it will primarily be used to support the scale-up of a novel semi-continuous pilot plant.