A fast-growing chemistry engineering firm is set to move to new and larger premises as it gears up for growth.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Vapourtec Ltd team outside its current premises at Park Farm Business Centre, Fornham St Genevieve, Bury St Edmunds.The Vapourtec Ltd team outside its current premises at Park Farm Business Centre, Fornham St Genevieve, Bury St Edmunds. (Image: Archant)

Vapourtec’s new headquarters building at Park Farm Business Centre in Bury St Edmunds, which is double the size of its current premises, is taking shape on land next to its existing home.

The firm, which employs 14 staff, has experienced record demand for its flow chemistry technology.

It makes systems which researchers can use to make chemical products, and its success reflects a growing interest among research chemists in continuing process technology.

It supplies the hi-tech synthesis equipment to blue-chip pharmaceutical companies globally for drug development.

East Anglian Daily Times: Bury St Edmunds- based Vapourtec, which designs and manufactures flow chemistry system has been in business for 14 years and is featured in 250 publications.Bury St Edmunds- based Vapourtec, which designs and manufactures flow chemistry system has been in business for 14 years and is featured in 250 publications. (Image: Archant)

Its technology has been used in various scientific breakthroughs, including Tamoxifen to combat breast cancer and Artemisinin used to combat malaria.

The new building is set to offer the facilities and potential for increased research, development, training and customer liaison.

Founder and managing director Duncan Guthrie said he hoped moving to the new home, which the firm hopes will be completed by the summer, will enable the business to employ more people and maintain its current momentum.

“The new building will give us the scope and capacity to deal with continued growth over the next five years,” he said.

East Anglian Daily Times: Chemistry engineering specialists Vapourtec has seen its flagship R-Series flow chemistry system reach global sales of 260.Chemistry engineering specialists Vapourtec has seen its flagship R-Series flow chemistry system reach global sales of 260. (Image: Archant)

“It will result in job creation and give us significantly more potential to develop flow chemistry technologies that help to bring down the cost of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals.

“It’s an exciting time for Vapourtec.

“We are experiencing record levels of growth in demand for our systems and associated technologies and the new headquarters will allow us to maintain that momentum.”.

The firm was founded in 2003, and exports 80% of its products to major markets including Europe, USA, China and India. It now has sales and service support based in the UK, the USA, Canada and other regions. Its R-Series flow chemistry system includes a number of innovative features which have been combined to offer precision, repeatability, faster reaction optimisation, and instant reproducible scaleup. Among its benefits is its easy integration with upstream and downstream equipment.