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R-Biopharm Rhône, one of Scotland's most successful scientific exporters, has posted record sales and profits in a year of extraordinary growth fuelled by a strong drive into new international markets.

The company, which makes diagnostic test kits for use in the agri-food industry, saw turnover increase to £6.4 million in the year to December 2012, up by 21.5% on the same period in 2011. It is projecting sales of £7 million by the end of 2013, with an increase in profits of 28%.

Growth in 2013 has already been boosted as a result of a significant increase in lab testing following the horse meat contamination scare, but most of the sales in 2012 and the first quarter of this year have been generated from organic growth and new export opportunities.

Simon Bevis, Managing Director, said: "We have been very encouraged by continuing successes in markets abroad. Sales in Asia are up by 50% to 60%, in Latin America we have seen a 50% increase and we have significant growth in Eastern Europe too."

The company, which is based in the West of Scotland Science Park in Glasgow, now has a headcount of more than 50, the highest in its 25-year history. It is now the biggest and most profitable subsidiary of its parent company, German diagnostics company R-Biopharm AG.

The company makes diagnostic test kits and sells more than 75% of its output outside the UK to global food manufacturing businesses. The remaining sales are mainly in England.

R-Biopharm Rhône is also planning to take on extra capability to generate new business from a unique new patented system, IMMUNOPREP® for on line analysis. This automated process will supersede existing methods which involve large amounts of manual work for lab staff, saving labs 25% to 30% of their costs. The system has already been launched at a series of high profile international events.

The company which achieved Investors In People status at bronze level last year is now going directly to IIP gold level, which it expects to achieve later this year. It is also, unusually for scientific enterprises, a major employer of female scientific and ancillary staff, who comprise 80% of the workforce. 

Mr Bevis said: "The whole team at R-Biopharm Rhône has contributed to these excellent results and to our ongoing healthy and sustainable growth patterns. We are continually seeking new opportunities and can look forward confidently to a prosperous future."

R-Biopharm Rhône's parent company has subsidiaries in the US, Italy, France, Latin America, Brazil, Spain, Australia and China.

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