Wales’ Minister for Economy officially opens Markes International’s new headquarters

Welsh Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething MS, officially opened Markes International’s new headquarters on 23 September.

The specialist analytical instrumentation manufacturer recently moved its Welsh operations in March 2021, from Llantrisant to the newly refurbished site in Bridgend which is twice the size of Markes International’s former HQ.

Before cutting the ribbon, Mr Gething was taken on a tour of the site, which started with the new demonstration laboratory before moving onto its 52,800 square foot factory and tailor-made research and development facilities.

Markes International develops and manufactures all its precision laboratory instruments at the Welsh site, which is its largest in the UK. Markes also operates sites in the USA, Germany, Canada, China and Asia-Pacific. Their analytical instruments are used to detect chemicals in solids, liquids and gases in much smaller quantities than have been previously possible. The instruments are used for a wide range of applications such as environmental monitoring, defence and forensics, food and drink – as well as for wholly new uses, such as detecting COVID-19 and cancer in breath and biological samples.  

Following his tour, Mr Gething said: “It was interesting to learn that Markes doesn’t just invent and make the instruments it sells the world-over, the business is also involved at an industry ‘grass roots’ level, often sitting on the boards of standards agencies like ISO, CEN and the FDA and helping to establish actual testing methods. It’s another example of a Welsh tech company setting the global standard for excellence – literally, in Markes’ case’.

Markes’ Founding Director, Alun Cole, said: “We were absolutely delighted that Economy Minister Mr Gething could come and see the site for himself, and very grateful to him for doing the official opening. We’re a Welsh ‘born and bred’ company and have almost 140 staff here in Bridgend, so it was a proud moment to be able show a Welsh Government Minister around.”