Cheshire-based Isotopx (www.isotopx.com), which makes specialised scientific testing machines, has expanded into new premises with the support of a £600,000 funding package from HSBC.

Established in 2008, it is one of only three companies in the world that design and manufacture magnetic-sector mass spectrometers. These machines can cost up to £600,000, and they are used by scientists and researchers to measure the isotopic composition of elements.

Isotopx currently exports all of its bespoke machines to universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton and Harvard in the USA, the nuclear industry and businesses around the world.

After 10 years of growth, in which it has expanded its workforce from nine to 21 people, the company has purchased a new 13,000ft² manufacturing facility — more than twice the size of its previous site in Middlewich.

The new premises will allow Isotopx to increase the capacity of its manufacturing and testing facilities, and to expand its workforce.

The company plans to bring two new mass spectrometers to the market and to increase its turnover by up to 50% over the next two years.

Managing director Dr Zenon Palacz said: “We are the only independent manufacturer in our field, so ensuring that we have the capacity and flexibility to compete in a global market was essential.

"We not only need more space to design, build and test our machines, but we also need more desk space and a larger car park for our growing workforce. With HSBC’s financial backing, we were able to invest in the right property, which gives us a platform for growth.”