Sepax Technologies Inc., a global chromatography company poised for significant growth over the next three to five years, has chosen Delaware as the site for its planned expansion and continuing emergence as a leader in the biological analysis and process purification field.
Since its founding by a University of Delaware alumnus in Delaware in 2002, Sepax has developed, manufactured and marketed liquid chromatography products – including bulk resins, prepacked columns and liquid chromatography systems – for more than 3,000 clients around the world. Sepax’s products cover all major chromatography modes and have been quickly gaining market share worldwide in recent years. As a result, the company has reached a critical point for the growth of its business.
Expansion will allow Sepax to increase its research and development work, build its manufacturing operations, continue contributing to the local economy and add a significant number of well-paying jobs in Delaware’s science and manufacturing sectors. Sepax currently employs 55 full-time employees, and the company has announced its intention to add 35 new full-time positions to its operations by the end of 2023.
“Sepax is a great example of how Delaware’s innovation ecosystem allows businesses to start here and grow here,” said Governor John Carney. “We are excited that Sepax, which started in the Delaware Technology Park, will be keeping their roots in Delaware as they expand and create good-paying jobs.”
Sepax is a longtime tenant of Newark’s Delaware Technology Park and is a member of both the Delaware BioScience Association and the Newark-based National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). Officials are eager for Sepax’s continued role within Delaware’s innovation ecosystem and for the company to grow its team and operations in its current location, which is in New Castle County.
“I am excited for our county to take advantage of the state’s Lab Space Grants through the expansion of Sepax Technologies,” said New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer. “Sepax will be bringing good-paying jobs to our area and expand our lab space footprint, which is very much in need.”
Sepax Technologies Inc. is making a $2 million capital investment toward its growth and expanded operations. Supporting the company’s plans are grants that the company was approved to receive from the Delaware Strategic Fund by the state Council on Development Finance: a Jobs Performance Grant of $54,922 and a Delaware Lab Space Grant for $420,150.
Demand for “ready-to-go” laboratory space for growing companies whose work is based in wet labs – largely biology and chemistry companies – is extremely high throughout the United States. In 2020, Delaware approved its statewide lab grant program to address this issue and ensure that existing small companies can grow within the state and that the state can attract new businesses by increasing its inventory of much-needed ready-to-go lab space. The 2021-22 state budget includes $10 million for the program.
“Sepax Technologies Inc. is very grateful to be the recipient of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund,” said Tingzhou Wu, general manager of Sepax. “With years of effort, Sepax has continued to grow, supporting our biopharma customers and their research in biologics manufacturing. We have been actively looking for lab space in Delaware to expand for years. With the tremendous help from Delaware Prosperity Partnership and Delaware Technology Park, the expansion supported by this grant will allow for an increase in important R&D research and strengthen our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to this opportunity for continued growth in the State of Delaware.”