Waters signs land-purchase agreement with Royal Bank of Scotland for new MS Headquarters in UK

Jan 20 2011

Waters Corporation today announced it signed a land-purchase agreement with The Royal Bank of Scotland for a new Mass Spectrometry (MS) Headquarters in Wilmslow, Cheshire, near Manchester, U.K.  

Situated on the 37-acre Stamford Lodge site on the A538 Wilmslow/Altrincham road, three miles south of Manchester Airport the new facility is intended to unite Waters' existing mass spectrometry operations located on four separate sites in South Manchester and Altrincham. Plans for the new facility include state-of-the-art customer demonstration laboratories, research and development capabilities, and an expanded manufacturing capacity.

Mass spectrometry is used to identify and quantify chemical components in complex mixtures. It is a very sensitive analytical technique, enabling scientists to confidently measure components or contaminants present at levels well below a millionth of a gram.  It is routinely used to safe-guard our food and water supply, protect the environment, provide medical diagnosis and to develop health-care solutions.

Waters' mass spectrometry technologies have advanced significantly over the past few years, especially with the introduction of a new range of more advanced instruments, such as the SYNAPT® and Xevo® ranges of mass spectrometers.

Brian Smith, Vice President of MS Business Operations at Waters Corporation said: "We are committed to working closely with our customers to advance mass spectrometry capabilities to address scientists' and societies' most pressing challenges. The new Waters MS Headquarters will be designed to accelerate the rate of innovation with increased access for the world's scientific thought-leaders."

"In addition to our commitment to our customers, Waters is honored to be able to continue Manchester's long legacy of mass spectrometry innovation. Starting with John Dalton's Atomic Theory in the early 1800's, Manchester continues to be a global centre for mass spectrometry technology," continued Brian Smith.

Plans for the new facility, within Cheshire East, also include employing BREEAM standards (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods), which have become the accepted measure used to describe a building's environmental performance, and encouraging best practices in sustainable design.

Waters will be holding a public consultation at The Wilmslow Rugby Club on Thursday, January 27th 2011 and Friday, January 28th 2011 from 3pm-9pm to give the local people of Wilmslow an opportunity to learn more about the company and plans for the Stamford Lodge site.

Waters Corporation is working closely with Cheshire East Council's Regeneration Service. Erika Wenzel, Chief Executive at Cheshire East Council said: "We are very happy to be welcoming this prestigious company to Cheshire East.  This is a fantastic opportunity to regenerate this area of Wilmslow.

"It will undoubtedly bring an exciting new perspective to the economic make up of the area and we are working closely with them to ensure that their move here is as smooth as possible."

Final sale of the land is dependent upon receiving planning and building permission from Cheshire East Council. The new Waters MS Headquarters is expected to open in 2013.

SOURCE Waters Corporation