November 2004
September 2004
July 2003
May 2003
November 2004
FFC Cambridge process to be developed
in South Yorkshire
Metalysis Ltd, the company responsible for commercialising a new
metal extraction process which dramatically cuts the cost of producing
metals, has secured funding and support from Objective 1 and Yorkshire
Forward to develop the technology in the South Yorkshire region.
The Cambridge University spin out company has the licence to exploit
the FFC (Fray, Farthing and Chen) Cambridge process developed in
the university’s materials department. This method allows
metals which are normally expensive and difficult to extract to
be produced at a significantly reduced cost. It also enables alloys
of metals to be produced without melting, which offers the potential
to make new alloys previously unattainable with conventional methods.
Currently based in Cambridge, Metalysis needs new facilities to
scale-up the current technology and develop a manufacturing site.
Initial exploration of locations within the UK show South Yorkshire
has the infrastructure for such a venture.
The company has secured funding and support worth £300,000
from Objective One and Yorkshire Forward to carry out research
to explore how the FFC Cambridge process will fit into the South
Yorkshire metals cluster and enhance the regional metal supply
chain. It is envisaged that relocating to the region will create
up to 100 jobs at Metalysis and within the local supply chain,
and create or safeguard a further 100 in companies benefiting from
the technology.
The project is being managed in collaboration with the National
Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC).
Dr Graham Cooley, chief executive of Metalysis said: “We
are delighted to have received this grant to facilitate our relocation
to South Yorkshire. From an infrastructure and supply chain viewpoint,
South Yorkshire appears to be an ideal location to develop this
revolutionary new metals technology.”
Tony Newson of Objective 1 said: “South Yorkshire has adopted
an approach to economic development based on clusters. We are pleased
to support this development of exciting new technology which has
the potential to make a great contribution to the advanced manufacturing
and metals cluster in South Yorkshire."
Sept 2004
Dearne Valley announced as home
for new metals technology
The Manvers regeneration site in the Dearne Valley has been chosen
as the location for a revolutionary metal extraction process which
dramatically cuts the cost and environmental impact of producing
a range of non-ferrous metals.
The site will be home to Metalysis Ltd, a Cambridge University
spin out company which has the commercial rights to exploit the
FFC Cambridge process developed in the University’s materials
department. This method allows metals which are normally expensive
and difficult to extract to be produced at significantly reduced
cost. It also enables alloys of metals to be produced without melting,
offering the potential to make new alloys previously unattainable
with conventional methods.
Originally based in Cambridge, Metalysis needed new facilities
to scale up the technology and develop a manufacturing site. Research
funded by Objective 1 and Yorkshire Forward confirmed that the
introduction of the FFC Cambridge process into the region would
enhance the regional metal supply chain, creating significant jobs
both at Metalysis and within the local supply chain.
Dr Graham Cooley, chief executive of Metalysis said: “We
are delighted to be relocating to the Dearne Valley. South Yorkshire
is already home to many leading technology companies and from an
infrastructure and supply chain viewpoint it is an excellent location
to develop this revolutionary new metals technology.”
July 2003
Commercialising the FFC Cambridge process
Metalysis, a Cambridge University spin-out company is commercialising a new metal extraction process which could dramatically decrease the cost and environmental impact of producing metals normally difficult and expensive to extract. Metals already produced in a one step process include chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt and silicon.
Metalysis, based at TWI's Granta Park in Cambridge, has been established to exploit an industrial process based on the FFC (Fray, Farthing and Chen) technology developed in the University’s Materials Department by academics of the same name. This novel electrolytic method for reducing metal oxide to metal in a molten salt allows metals and alloys to be produced at a fraction of the current price. It also enables alloys of metals to be produced without melting, which offers the potential to make new alloys previously unattainable with conventional methods.
Professor Derek Fray, Head of the Materials Department at Cambridge and formerly Professor of Mineral Engineering at Leeds University, is a founder and Director of the company. He says: 'The patented technology is a one step process for the production of metals from oxides, and because the process is more energy efficient than traditional methods, we will also greatly reduce environmental impact.'
The company was initially supported by the University Challenge Fund, and has now received a further £250,000 from The University of Cambridge Venture Capital Fund. It has also appointed Dr Graham Cooley as its new CEO, previously CEO of highly successful Cambridge telecoms components company Antenova, for which he raised £10 million of VC funding.
Cooley says: 'The technology is a very significant step forward and enormously exciting in economic and environmental terms. We will be able to make metals from their oxides at a very low cost and also greatly reduce environmental impact.
May 2003
Metalysis secure early stage funding
Metalysis, a company set up to commercialise a new metal extraction
process which could dramatically decrease the cost and environmental
impact of producing metals has received early funding totalling £0.5m
and is now moving forward to seek a further £3m of VC funding. Metalysis was initially supported by the Cambridge University
Challenge Fund, and has now received a further £250,000 from
The University of Cambridge Venture Capital Fund. It has also appointed
Dr Graham Cooley as its new CEO. Graham was previously CEO of highly
successful Cambridge telecoms components company Antenova, for
which he raised £10 million of VC funding. Alistair Morton, Chair of the Challenge Fund says: 'We saw the
potential for this business early on in its life, and it is good
to see our foresight endorsed by further significant funding from
the University of Cambridge.' Located in Cambridge, the company has been established to exploit
an industrial process based on the FFC (Fray, Farthing and Chen)
technology developed in the University’s Materials Department
by academics of the same name. This novel method allows metals
that are normally expensive and difficult to extract to be produced
at a fraction of the current price. It also enables alloys of metals
to be produced without melting, which offers the potential to make
new alloys previously unattainable with conventional methods. Cooley explains: 'The technology Metalysis has patented is a very
significant step forward and enormously exciting in economic and
environmental terms. We will be able to make metals from oxides
at a very low cost, and because the process is more energy efficient
than traditional methods, we will also greatly reduce environmental
impact.'
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