Multi-Lab

Multi-Lab Quartztec ltd

Building on a record of success in the semiconductor industry

Scotland’s electronics sector offers high quality skills and extensive industry experience, enabling niche companies such as Multi-Lab QuartzTec to grow and increase sales year on year.

Newcastle-based Multi-Lab specialises in making quartz glass and machining ceramics for use in semiconductors. In 2008, it bought the East Kilbride factory from German company, Heraeus Quartztech. This added specialist manufacturing capabilities and expertise to the Multi-Lab portfolio, enabling the company to extend its range of high tech products and carry out high precision quartz fabrication for a range of industries. The East Kilbride facility has the infrastructure, the skill base and a large market share in the UK and Ireland. The enlarged business opens up opportunities for marketing product on a global basis.

Gordon Whyte, European Marketing Director at Multi-Lab, is concentrating predominantly on expanding into the European market, but he is already looking at doing business in the US and Far East.

"When I first heard about GlobalScots in the summer of 2008, I thought it was a great opportunity. It just fitted in exactly with our strategy going forwards. I have ex-colleagues and ex-customers all over the world, so I know the benefits of using those contacts."

Working with GlobalScots

Gordon Whyte’s first GlobalScot contact was Dr Eiji Nagasawa, former Managing Director at NEC Semiconductor. This led to an introduction to an agent in Taiwan and the relationship is on-going.

"We’re at the start of our global marketing push and Dr Nagasawa is a tremendously significant contact for us. His assistance with getting into the Asian market is vital."

Gordon also sees the potential value of the GlobalScot Network to help him access the European semiconductor market. During 2009, he intends to make full use of the Network’s generous support, wide range of contacts and industry-specific knowledge.

In the past, Scotland was a training base for semiconductor manufacturing in Europe. There are a lot of good Scots – senior people - throughout the world who are still working in the industry, especially in the States. This puts us in a very strong position.