Member Article

Growth under the microscope at Sunderland's VisiTech

A Sunderland-based manufacturer of high-powered clinical research microscopes is focusing on expansion following a six-figure funding boost. VisiTech International Ltd, based on the Sunderland Enterprise Park, manufactures advanced 3D laser microscopes among other equipment for the life science community.

Many of its products are used by scientists at leading academic research institutions in Europe and North America to study the behaviour of living cells. These include Newcastle and Cambridge Universities, UCLA, Germany’s Max Planck Institute and The Curie Institute in Paris. Global pharmaceutical giants GSK and the US space agency NASA also number among the company’s 500 customers.

Now, VisiTech has turned to Evolve Finance, part of NEL Fund Managers Limited, for new funding to help it proceed with plans for the launch of a new generation of microscopes, which will allow it to secure further sales and growth, particularly in the important US market place. The funding package will be used to finance a new advertising and marketing campaign, including road show events and attendance at trade exhibitions.

Dr Jafer Sheblee, VisiTech’s owner and chief executive, said: “We are launching a revolutionary new microscope and needed the additional funding to create product awareness and generate new sales. NEL Fund Managers has been associated with this business for many years, and really understand what we’re trying to achieve and appreciate our market.”

Simon Johnson, senior investment executive at Evolve Finance, said: “VisiTech has proved to be a consistent innovator and market leader in a niche sector. “The number of world-famous research institutions that use the company’s technologies is a clear testament to their expertise and technical innovation, and we fully expect them to continue to go from strength to strength.”

For further details on NEL Fund Managers Ltd’s visit www.nel.co.uk. For more information about Visitech, visit www.visitech.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .