Nexxus Scotland

Link Technologies Ltd

Link Technologies Ltd was established in the West of Scotland in 1989 and has since built an enviable global reputation as a supplier of quality products for DNA and RNA research. Initially formed by graduates of the University of Glasgow, the company began life within the University's incubator facilities before moving to Cumbernauld then Bellshill. The company manufactures speciality products for oligonucleotides up to kilo scale, all to the ISO 9001:2000 quality certification. As such it is the only company of its kind in the UK and one of only a handful worldwide.

Link Technologies operates from a single 7,500 sq ft custom-built facility at the Strathclyde Business Park in Bellshill, central Scotland. In 2008 the upgrading of these facilities to include 2 large-scale laboratories was completed, giving the company the ability to manufacture from small, development scale right up to the kilo scale required by larger clients. Link currently employs 21 people.

Initially the company operated primarily as a contract supplier, manufacturing and developing compounds for major reagent suppliers however since 1998 it has also been supplying products direct to end-users through its catalogue business. Its main markets are university research departments and companies using synthetic oligonucleotides for research purposes. Increasingly Link is conducting business with larger Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs) in the biotech sector, providing custom products to exacting specifications in bulk quantities.

The company has also forged successful R&D links to academia and works closely with many Scottish and other UK universities. In tandem with internal research and development, the company also has an excellent record in bringing in-licence products to market with various commercial partners such as Agilent Technologies, Inc. (UK and US), Biosearch Technologies Inc. (US), the Medical Research Council (UK), and the PNA Inventor Group, Exiqon A/S, and Ribotask ApS (all Denmark).

Whilst the reagent sector continues to come under increasing price pressure, Link continues to maintain an outlook focused on quality products and service. Dr John Bremner, Business Development Director, says "Our products have always been of the highest quality available in the market. When you couple that with the level of customer service we provide, we believe there is no-one better in the marketplace. Some customers will put price above everything, and indeed we do everything we can to stay competitive, however we find that the majority of customers value the package that we can deliver overall."

Link's location also provides a competitive advantage. John continues, "Our location in the West of Scotland is also significant as we have access to excellent science graduates from the local universities and a high quality labour pool in scientific manufacturing. The enterprise environment in Scotland has also been very supportive in helping us to develop a truly globally-focused business from the Glasgow area."

In the future, and building on existing strong customer relationships, John says the company is confident of achieving further expansion in its manufacture of important products for oligonucleotide research. Growing application areas such as molecular diagnostics, together with emerging markets, particularly in Asia, are providing opportunities that Link is embracing. 

Working at the cutting edge of scientific research, Link Technologies strives to be constantly innovative and benefits from the many advantages it derives from its location in the West of Scotland; particularly in terms of availability of skilled labour, good communication and transport links and a supportive enterprise environment.

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