£1.8m HIE investment enables BASF expansion in Lewis

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has invested up to £1.8m to create a new warehouse at BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd in Breasclete, Isle of Lewis.

Work is underway by Lewis Builders to build the new 550m² facility at the site where it occupies a factory, which is owned by HIE. The new warehouse will provide much needed storage capacity to support the company’s growth development plans.

Around eighty people are currently employed at the factory including a team of skilled experts producing highly purified omega 3s as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Using patented processing technology and sustainable fish oil supplies, the products are used in pharmaceutical and dietary supplements, most of which are exported around the world.

As the company expands its operations, it is expected to create more jobs over the coming years.

The BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd facility has undergone significant transformation since Equateq, a start-up company employing eight people at its inception, was established in Breasclete in 2006. 

Since BASF acquired Equateq in 2012, the company has established itself as a global leading manufacturer of a high-quality lipid used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

There is a strong focus on sustainability at the Breasclete site, with ambitions to further reduce its carbon footprint as it looks to transition to net zero CO₂ emissions.

Joanna Peteranna, area manager for HIE’s Outer Hebrides team visited BASF this week along with HIE's chief executive, Stuart Black. Joanna said:

“We have worked with BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd and its predecessor over many years to establish and grow this important business. The company has already achieved a great deal in Lewis, developing a highly successful scientific business providing well paid employment and trading internationally from an island location.

“The new warehouse will provide more storage capacity which will assist in their planned increased production. We’ve supported the company’s growth over several years and we are delighted to have played a key role in enabling this latest investment to strengthen the business further and secure jobs on the west side of Lewis. It's great that BASF have an operation on the Isle of Lewis and we are pleased that this in turn gives them the opportunity to contribute to the Island’s economy and communities.”

Angus Morrison, site manager for BASF Pharma (Callanish) Ltd, said: “This is another important milestone in the development and growth of the business on the Isle of Lewis. We are committed to sustainable manufacturing here at BASF Pharma (Callanish) and are grateful to the HIE for their support and investment, enabling us to secure highly skilled and high-quality jobs in our local community.”

Tasgadh bho HIE de £1.8m a’ comasachadh leudachadh air BASF ann an Leòdhas

Tha companaidh saidheans beatha a’ leudachadh a ghoireis agus a’ faotainn is dìon obraichean air Eilean Leòdhais le taic bho bhuidheann iomairt na roinne.

Tha Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE) air suas ri £1.8m a thasgadh gus taigh-bathair ùr a chruthachadh aig BASF Pharma (Calanais) Earranta ann am Breascleit, Eilean Leòdhais.  

Tha obair air tòiseachadh le Lewis Builders gus an goireas ùr de 550m² de mheud a thogail aig an làraich far a bheil an fhactaraidh, a tha ann an seilbh HIE.  Bheir an taigh-bathair ùr seachad comas stòraidh air a bheil cruaidh fheum gus taic a chur ri planaichean leasachaidh fàis a’ chompanaidh.

Mar a bhios a’ chompanaidh a’ leudachadh obrachaidhean, thathar an dùil barrachd dhreuchdan a chruthachadh thar nam bliadhnaichean ri teachd.

Tha timcheall air ochdad neach air am fastadh gu làithreach san fhactaraidh, a’ gabhail a-steach sgioba de dh’eòlaichean sgileil a tha a’ toradh omega 3 àrd-ghlainte mar ghrìtheidean  chungaidhean-leigheis ghnìomhach. A’ cleachdadh teicneòlas giullachd peutanta agus solaran ola seasmhach, tha toraidhean gan cleachdadh ann an co-leasachaidhean bìdh agus cungaidhean-leigheis, leis a’ mhòr-chuid gan às-mhalairt air feadh an t-saoghail.

Tha goireas BASF Pharma (Calanais) Earranta air a dhol fo chruth-atharrachadh cudromach bho chaidh Equateq, companaidh tòiseachaidh a’ fastadh ochdnar dhaoine aig toiseach  gnothaich, a stèidheachadh ann am Breascleit ann an 2006. 

On a ghabh BASF thairis Equateq ann an 2012, tha a’ chompanaidh air iad fhèin a stèidheachadh mar phrìomh shaothraiche cruinneil de liopaid àrd-chàileachdail a tha ga cleachdadh ann an dèiligeadh ri galaran cridhe is fala.  

Thadhail Joanna Peteranna, manaidsear sgìreil sgioba HIE Innse Gall, air BASF an t-seachdain-sa còmhla ri Àrd-Oifigear HIE, Stiùbhart MacIlleDhuibh. Thuirt Joanna:

“Tha sinn air a bhith ag obair le BASF Pharma (Calanais) Earranta agus Equateq a bh’ ann roimhe thar mòran bhliadhnaichean gus an gnothachas cudromach seo a stèidheachadh agus fhàs. Tha a’ chompanaidh air mòran a choileanadh mar-thà ann an Leòdhas, a’ leasachadh gnothachas saidheansail àrd-shoirbheachail a tha a’ solarachadh cosnadh air a dheagh phàigheadh agus malairt eadar-nàiseanta bho làrach eileanach.

“Bheir an taigh-bathair seachad comas air barrachd stòraidh, a chuidicheas le saothrachadh meudaichte air a phlanadh. Tha sinn air taic a chur ri fàs na companaidh thar grunn bhliadhnaichean agus tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith air prìomh àite a choileanadh ann an comasachadh an tasgaidh mu dheireadh seo, gus an gnothachas a neartachadh barrachd agus obraichean fhaotainn air taobh siar Leòdhais. Tha e anabarrach math gu bheil  gnìomhachd aig BASF ann an Eilean Leòdhais, agus tha sinn toilichte gu bheil seo an uair sin a’ toirt cothrom dhaibh cur ri eaconamaidh an Eilein agus nan coimhearsnachdan.”  

Thuirt Aonghas Moireasdan, manaidsear làraich aig BASF Pharma (Calanais) Earranta: “Is e clach-mhìle chudromach eile a tha seo ann an leasachadh agus fàs air a’ ghnothachas air eilean Leòdhais. Tha sinn dealasach a thaobh saothrachadh seasmhach an seo aig BASF Pharma (Calanais) agus tha sinn an comain HIE airson an cuid taic agus inbheistidh, ga dhèanamh comasach dhuinn obraichean àrd-sgileil agus àrd-chàileachdail fhaotainn don choimhearsnachd ionadail againn.”