Amano Enzyme sets up at Milton Park

Speciality enzyme manufacturer Amano Enzyme has opened is new Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) hub at Oxfordshire’s Milton Park.

Amano’s enzymes are used in the plant-based alternatives market to improve flavour, texture, colour and digestion and nutritional profiles.

The Japanese biotech company is looking to drive its growth, having taken 5,682 square feet of office and laboratory space at 25 Western Avenue.

Philip Campbell, Commercial Director at MEPC Milton Park, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Amano Enzyme to our vibrant and innovative community at Milton Park.

“The company’s exciting work in the development and manufacture of speciality enzymes makes it a brilliant fit for the Park and we’re proud to have been able to provide Amano with the space for its cutting-edge laboratory and office space requirements.

“We look forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength as they set up operations in Oxfordshire and provide much-needed high-quality jobs across the region.”

The firm has a long history. First founded as a pharmaceutical company in 1899, it moved into enzyme development in 1948. Amano has since become the largest manufacturer of its kind on Japan, and one of the largest in the US.

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The Milton Park move comes as the company celebrates 30 years in the United Kingdom, and one year before its fortieth anniversary in Europe in 2023. Amano is looking to double its workforce at the park in the coming years by recruiting in R&D, sales and customer service roles.

Enzymes are biological proteins that act as catalysts in living organisms, accelerating the body’s chemical reactions. Amano Enzyme develops and manufactures speciality enzymes with applications across the food, dietary, biomedical, diagnostic and industrial sectors. Recently, Amano has seen a jump in demand for non-dairy alternatives.

Currently undergoing a major fit-out, Amino’s new Milton Park hub will over see all its operations across EMEA. Once complete, it will allow the firm to continue its expansion into strategic focus areas, including plant-based food and drinks.

Kazumi Washisaka, Managing Director at Amano Enzyme, said: “Milton Park offers the space to create bespoke laboratories in close proximity to Reading University’s Food and Nutritional Sciences hub, making it the ideal location for Amano Enzyme’s new EMEA base.

“Additionally, we were keen to find an innovative work environment with excellent public transport links.

“We’re thoroughly looking forward to growing our pipeline of work with the support of these new premises while at the same time networking with the many other pioneering biotechnology companies based at Milton Park.”

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