Cellerate’s Dr Richard Fields (left) with Andy Nichols, senior loan manager at GC Business Finance

Manchester-based Cellerate, a global leader in manufacturing and developing advanced automated systems for battery research and a technology scale-up has received a £100,000 loan from NPIF – River & GC Microfinance.

Incorporated in 2020 by Dr Richard Fields, the company specialises in engineering solutions that accelerate the commercialisation of new energy storage technologies to foster a more sustainable future. Dr Fields received a PhD in Material Science from the University of Surrey and has spent 11 years designing and manufacturing batteries and supercapacitors. It was while working at the National Graphene Institute, based at the University of Manchester, that he recognised the industry-wide frustration around building battery test cells manually, which ultimately leads to human error in the datasets.

Through his work, he has solved a series of key technical problems around battery cell assembly and sealing, which has allowed Cellerate to develop an automated battery test cell manufacturing system which eliminates human error within test cell manufacturing. The system also enables new data streams for improving battery technology and can produce an 80% staff time-saving in comparison to traditional methods. Cellerate now operates across the Americas, Europe and Asia and has already become a ‘go to partner‘ for institutions working on advanced energy storage solutions.

The new funding injection from NPIF will help Cellerate to grow as it moves into a larger unit within its existing premises, along with fitting out this new unit with advanced battery manufacturing equipment. With the expansion in its facility size, Cellerate will be able to match production demands and continue developing next generation battery technologies, providing industry leading solutions.

Dr Fields said: “The journey Cellerate has been on in just three years is incredible. We are already an industry leader in advanced energy-storage solutions and want to continue making a positive impact on the industry through our solutions. It has been great to use my research to positively impact corporations, Government bodies, and academic institutions. As we move into our new premises following the funding from NPIF, I look forward to growing the business further and entering this new chapter in Cellerate’s growth journey.”

Innovative business
Andy Nichols, senior loan manager at GC Business Finance, added: “As a Manchester-based business it is exciting to see the impact Cellerate is already having on the industry. Manchester was home to the industrial revolution, so it is great to continue this legacy and support another innovative manufacturing business. Becoming a global leader in the battery cell industry within just four years, the success Cellerate has already achieved is incredible. It has been a pleasure to work with Dr Fields and I look forward to seeing the continued success Cellerate will enjoy in the future.”

Debbie Sorby, senior manager at the www.british-business-bank.co.uk British Business Bank, said: “The industry-wide success Cellerate has achieved displays the strength of business innovation that we have in the North West. Funding from NPIF gives Northern businesses like Cellerate the momentum to continue growing and making an impact in their industry. Delivering regionally focused support throughout the North boosts economic prosperity and allows businesses to flourish. I look forward to seeing the continued success of Cellerate as it continue to bring innovative solutions to the cell battery industry.”

The current NPIF investment phase has now completed with the British Business Bank launching the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II in March 2024. The fund is supported by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank. The MSIF group of funds are managed by River Capital Management Ltd which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the course of investment business.