The first phase of Sphere Medical’s plans to relocate its manufacturing facility to Wales was marked this week (Thursday 4 February) when Economy Minister Edwina Hart officially opened their new premises in St Asaph.
The company makes monitoring and diagnostic equipment for the healthcare sector and the phased move to Wales coincides with the commercialisation of its key product Proxima.
Proxima, a CE marked device, delivers near real time analysis of blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites at the bedside for clinically unstable patients and is already being marketed to the critical care market.
This new site will enable Sphere Medical to manufacture over 200,000 Proxima sensors per annum. The company expects to create dozens of jobs at the facility as Proxima achieves significant commercial traction.
Speaking at the opening Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “I am delighted to welcome Sphere Medical to Wales where it joins a rapidly growing, thriving sector which has the full support of the Welsh Government.
“Life sciences are one of our priority sectors and make a significant contribution to the Welsh economy and to the health and well being of society while creating highly skilled jobs.
“Today is an important milestone for Sphere Medical as it embarks on a key stage of its journey from a research based business into a fully fledged commercially successful business.
“Sphere Medical is already making significant strides with the uptake of its Proxima products and its move to Wales will enable the company to scale up production and I wish them every success in the future.”
Dr. Wolfgang Rencken, Chief Executive Officer of Sphere Medical, said: “Today’s official opening marks a significant moment for Sphere as we prepare to start commercial production; our dedicated sales force is now marketing Proxima directly to the critical care market and we were pleased to report news of our first sale of Proxima in Germany last week.
“We are grateful to the Minister today, the Welsh Government and the Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund for their support with this development.”
Sphere Medical has moved its corporate office and now its manufacturing base to Wales following a successful £13.2m equity fundraising round that included up to £4m funding from the Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund which is managed on a discretionary basis by Arthurian Life Sciences.