Baytouch REACH-ing out to chemicals sector

A SPECIALIST North West IT company has seen sales take off since the launch of strict  European rules governing the chemicals sector.

Baytouch, which has offices in Padiham and Brussels, will see turnover pass £500,000 this year as demand for its product, which helps companies comply with the REACH legislation, grows.

REACH, which stands for  Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of CHemicals is the most complex legislation in the European Union’s history – and is 849 pages-long.

The legislation placed responsibilities on all European manufacturers and importers to identify and manage the risks chemicals they make and sell may pose to human health and to the environment.

Baytouch, which was set up in 2005 in advance of REACH becoming law in 2007 earns more than 60% of its revenue comes from Europe. Global giant Kimberley Clarke is one of its customers.

Managing director Malcolm Pollard, pictured,  said: “While we do have individual corporate customers, our main focus is currently working with large industry groups or consortia, who have to work together to register substances they have in common, and do this through our Internet-based REACHsuite software.

“There are more than 140,000 chemicals within the supply chain and the potential impact of REACH is huge with some every-day products unexpectedly disappearings if their chemical component hasn’t been registered.”