Trio of new deals at life sciences incubator following £10m refurb
Three innovative R&D companies have expanded into Hexagon Tower, in Blackley, signalling a growing interest in science infrastructure outside Manchester city centre.
The site, part of Pioneer Group’s wider life sciences network that includes 645 R&D businesses across Europe, is located next to North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH).
Designed by renowned modernist architect, Richard Seifert, the 11-floor, 165,000 sq ft building opened in 1973 and has become one of Manchester’s premier incubators for growing life science businesses, said Pioneer.
The site is home to several international life science companies, including Intertek, Arxada and Fresenius.
A £10m refurbishment has recently been completed, which includes the creation of additional CL2 wet labs with individual suites from 300 sq ft to 2,400 sq ft, capable of accommodating requirements up to 15,000 sq ft, targeting early-stage companies.
Jeroen Houtzager, Pioneer Group director, said: “Blackley continues to be a growing cluster for life sciences in Manchester and the North West region and is quickly becoming known as a destination for exciting companies spinning out of leading North West universities, owing to their strong relationships with the NHS and academic institutions.
Last month, Alpha Scientific, a water testing specialist and part of ADEY Group, relocated its UKAS-accredited, microbiological water testing laboratory to Hexagon Tower. The new specialist facility will house its team of microbiologist that provide analytical services for microorganisms and is an expansion of the company’s existing premises, including those at Pioneer Group’s Kent Science Park.
Mo Jassal, Head of Laboratory Operations at Alpha Scientific, said: “Our new Manchester lab is a key part of our growth and expansion, which will allow us to provide the highest quality microbiological water testing to further regions across the country.
“Scalability is an important part of Alpha’s plans and the move from our previous location in the city, as a result of an increase in demand, will also allow us to grow and expand further.”
Also in July, John Hogg Technical Solutions, which operates in fuel marking technology and solvent dye manufacturing, moved its R&D department to Hexagon Tower, taking up 1,710 sq ft of space. The new site includes a cutting-edge laboratory and modern office space, where the company will develop new products for the lubricant, aerobatic smoke and NDT markets.
Guy Powell, Technical Manager at John Hogg said: “This exciting move marks a significant milestone in our company’s growth and highlights our commitment to innovation and technical excellence.”
Also among the companies committing to North Manchester is Colour Synthesis Solutions, a provider of fine chemicals and chemistry research and development services, which has taken additional space in Hexagon Tower in support of its expansion plans.
Kelly Schaefer, Sales and Marketing Director at CSS said: “CSS has been in Hexagon Tower for over 15 years, specialising in contract research and custom synthesis. To meet our growing customer demand and expand our services, we needed to increase our capacity.
“This expansion enhances our reactor capacity and analytical capabilities. It marks an exciting chapter for CSS and highlights our continued commitment to new technologies.”
