The Rs 70-crore Millipore India has managed to generate an overall 25 per cent growth which allowed the company to consolidate its leadership in the purification and filtration business. The spurt in sales is attributed to the research and development initiatives by the multinational companies in both the pharma and contract research sectors. A large number of orders came in from the Genomics/Protein Research and syringe filters for HPLC applications.

The biopharmaceutical division launched new products in disposable manufacturing, rapid microbiology and traditional microbiology apart from automated purification and clarification systems. The Lab Water Division launched large Elix and RiOs water purification systems for customers requiring up to 5,000 litres/day of pure and ultra pure water.

"With a firm footing in the market, Millipore is confident to grab a sizeable share of the market in 2005 where products from the bio pharmaceuticals, lab water and life sciences divisions are expected to be the revenue earners," Sudhir Kant, president, Millipore told pharmabiz.com

The company has invested around Rs 7 crore to set up the ACCESS Lab at Bangalore which is recognized as the world's only integrated validation process development, protein separation and application development lab facility. "This is the only high tech consulting lab for pharmaceutical/biotech support for the first time in India", he claimed.

Strategic tie-ups were formalized with two research centres in Bangalore including a US-based organization for developing novel technologies keeping in mind the company's initiatives for 2007 for new products and upgrading of manufacturing processes.

Millipore's Centre for R&D and the Export Unit for software development saw new investments in lab facilities and manpower. The company went on to hire an additional 25 per cent of workforce in the areas of applications and technical functions including service support. It has also finalized a new office in Hyderabad. Another development at Millipore India is that its parent company has entrusted it to handle the markets of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.