Sigma-Aldrich and CatScl ally on catalysis services

Sigma-Aldrich has announced a new collaborative services agreement between its custom manufacturing services business unit SAFC and the UK-based catalysis company CatScl.

The agreement will see SAFC customers receive rapid access to new reactions, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, biocatalysts, solvent selection and process development, in addition to metal removal, recovery and recycling services.

CatScI's services focus on maximising yield, optimising quality, reducing waste and minimising chemical development costs through reaction understanding.

The collaboration comes at a time when the importance of catalysis to the pharmaceutical industry is steadily growing, with around 90 percent of chemicals now requiring the use of catalytic processes in their manufacture.

Andreas Weiler, head of global strategic marketing for contract manufacturing services and solutions at SAFC, said: "The strategic partnership combines CatScI's extensive expertise in catalysed reactions and complex chemical processes with SAFC's strength in process development, scale-up and manufacturing of high-value products."

Last month, Sigma-Aldrich published its financial results for the third quarter of 2013, during which it achieved year-on-year sales growth of four percent.