31st January 2021

EKF Expands Into Second Manufacturing Facility In Cardiff

EKF Diagnostics has expanded its production with the introduction of a new manufacturing facility in Cardiff. The expansion is to help the listed business meet demand for PrimeStore MTM, a key component of the Covid-19 testing process.

PrimeStore MTM allows Covid-19 samples from swabs to be rapidly inactivated in the collection tube, enabling safe transportation and avoiding contamination while preserving RNA for accurate analysis without the need for refrigeration.

The new facility is more than 600 sq. metres, representing a 100 per cent increase in manufacturing space.

Up to 36,000 PrimeStore MTM tubes will be produced at Llandough every day, adding to EKF’s existing manufacturing onsite at Penarth and at its three other facilities in Texas and Indiana in the US, and Barleben, Germany.

EKF engaged only local contractors during the fitting out process and now finished, the new facility at Llandough will provide work for up to 40 staff, operating three tube filling pump lines and three rooms for sample kit assembly.

Already EKF has created over 30 new jobs on the production line and in quality assurance, customer services, purchasing, operations and logistics to meet the demand for PrimeStore MTM. EKF expects to employ more staff as it settles into the new facility.

EKF’s continued growth, has created opportunities for many other new employees from a diverse range of Covid-19 impacted industries.

The new manufacturing facility will also become a distribution hub for EKF’s latest portfolio addition, Covid-SeroKlir which is an antibody test developed by Kantaro Biosciences based on technology from Mount Sinai Health System in New York.

EKF chief executive Julian Baines said: “We are proud to be bucking the current employment trend in Wales by taking this strategic decision to increase the size of our manufacturing facilities in Cardiff. We could have stayed in our previous manufacturing space but by moving into larger facilities we have room for growth and can ensure our growing staff numbers can operate in a safe and secure environment.”

He added: “Although Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out, we are still experiencing strong demand from both public and private sector customers for PrimeStore MTM.

“We are also about to launch our new Covid-19 antibody testing kit which we believe will also be of interest to labs, hospitals and businesses who want to identify which members of staff have antibodies. Those with a high antibody count will have strong resistance to the virus and with regular monitoring can return to the workplace.”