Pictured above: Director Ian Hopkinson (right) and
Chemist Carl Hughes test the new bottling machine at Derwent
Analytics in Ilkeston
An Ilkeston firm is under no optical illusions about its new
production line for a solution to clean contact lenses - it clearly
sees it as a winner.
Derwent Analytics is so convinced about its new venture it is
expanding into extra premises and plans to take on several
highly-skilled staff.
The family-run company, based at Manners Road industrial estate,
makes bespoke mineral solutions that are used in analysis by
various industries to test for impurities.
Last year it struck a deal with Coca Cola to provide a solution
to make sure that through final testing at the corporate giant's UK
plants drinkers do get the real thing.
But director Ian Hopkinson had his eyes on other markets and saw
an opportunity with a Lincolnshire customer.
Derwent Analytics supplies the company with chemicals for making
cosmetic contact lenses - a fashion accessory for people who like
to change their eye-colours, particularly at Halloween and other
party times.
These disposable lenses have a life-span of 30 days, but can be
used daily provided they are looked after properly.
Derwent Analytics will be providing a solution to keep the
lenses clean and sterile to avoid any infection.
Production starts this month (August) and Ian anticipates that
his firm will be sending more than 100,000 plastic bottles of
solution each month to the Lincolnshire company for labelling and
distribution.
Already Argos has agreed to stock the product and Ian estimates
that this order with others will bring in £800,000 a year
just from Britain but is looking to export to India which in turn
would supply the big American market.
Aware that fashions can come and go Ian expanded on the idea to
come up with a solution that could meet certain manufacturing
quality standards and be applied to medical contact lenses.
There is also the potential to make eyewashes, eye drops and ear
drops.
"We would hope to be able to attract the big pharmaceutical
chains and supermarkets as customers," said Ian.
His biggest raw material comes from Severn-Trent Water. After
purifying the water six minerals will be added to produce a sterile
saline solution.
He is investing £130,000 in setting up a water plant,
mixing vessels, and a pharmaceutical-standard clean room with
bottle-filling machines.
"This is an exciting development," said Ian. "This unit, which
has been home to us for the past eight years, will become a
world-class manufacturing facility, equal to anything. With all
markets open to us the potential is unlimited."
Regeneration agency Erewash Partnership has found Derwent
Analytics extra premises 200 yards away at its Enterprise Court
which helps small and growing businesses. That will be used for
warehousing and garaging, with plans to add to the two delivery
vehicles.
Ian said he was pleased to use local companies to prepare for
the new production line including next-door neighbour Cladceil,
another Partnership member, building the clean room.
Ian Viles, chief executive of Erewash Partnership, said: "This
is a bold entrepreneurial move by Derwent Analytics, and it is
great to see a local company expanding its manufacturing activity
and creating specialist jobs.
"As an organisation which promotes enterprise we were happy to
help find extra premises to enable Derwent Analytics to go ahead
and we wish them well."
With full production by the year end Derwent Analytics hopes to
create up to five jobs for positions such as chemists.