Hitachi High-Technologies (Europe), a division of the global electronics group, is taking laboratory space in the Cheshire campus’s newest building, Techspace One. Tony McDonough reports

Global electronics giant Hitachi has chosen Sci-Tech Daresbury as the location of a new cutting-edge scientific facility.

Hitachi High-Technologies (Europe), a division of the Japanese group, is taking laboratory space in the Cheshire campus’s newest building, Techspace One.

The company, which is located throughout Europe, is creating a brand new applications lab in Techspace One of 2,500 sq ft to house its latest electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes in four dedicated microscope rooms.

The lab will have a special focus on collaborations, both with academia and industry, not only in the North of England, but also across the UK and Europe.

The Hitachi High-Tech Group handles a variety of products from scientific instruments and systems, electronic devices, to industrial machinery and advanced materials.

Together with its sister building Techspace Two, Techspace One provides 43,000 sq ft of grade A office and laboratory space at the Sci-Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone.

Mike Dixon, nanotechnology section manager said: “Our aim for the new laboratory is to be a demonstration facility for our latest instrumentation as well as a collaboration hub where we can undertake a wide range of activities including fundamental research and method development.

“What really appealed about Techspace One was its strong impact and flexibility, allowing us to design the space in the way that works for us best.

“The move also means that we will be adding new staff to strengthen the company’s applications and technical team, and increasing our commitment to microscopy in the UK.”

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a private-public joint-venture partnership between developer Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton Borough Council.