Why Wilmington’s AMT and Newark’s Sepax plan to expand in Delaware

Manufacturing in Delaware has evolved from its mill origins to become a 21st-century economic driver. Today, the state is known for shipping healthcare, life sciences and biotech products — and employing tens of thousands.

One case in point: Delaware’s Advanced Materials Technology (AMT) is staying put as it expands.

The product development and manufacturing company, best known for its HALO Fused-Core technology for separation science applications, is adding more than 12,000 square feet of research and development space to its existing 17,000 square feet of R&D, manufacturing and office space at Concord Plaza in North Wilmington.

Founded in 2005, the company currently employs 39 full-time employees and intends to nearly double its staff by adding 35 new full-time positions over the next three years.

The expansion was announced by the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP), which stated that AMT is making a capital investment of $4.5 million, including $3 million for renovation of its laboratory space, toward its growth and expanded operations. Supporting the company’s plans are grants that the company has been approved to receive from the Delaware Strategic Fund by the state Council on Development Finance, as well as a Jobs Performance Grant of nearly $90,000 and a Delaware Lab Space Grant of $619,000.

“These grants really tipped the scales on our decision to remain in Delaware,” Advanced Materials Technology cofounder and President Tim Langlois said in a statement. “With this funding, we will be able to focus on development of our products, provide additional employment opportunities and continue the community involvement we’ve established through internships with University of Delaware students and activities like Bike to the Bay.”

Concord Plaza, a mixed-use development project by the Buccini Pollin Group is also home to the recently opened headquarters of Marlette Funding/Best Egg near The Mill Concord.

DPP also announced that Sepax Technologies Inc., a global chromatography company founded by a UD alumnus in 2002, is making a $2 million capital investment toward its growth and expanded operations. The company is a longtime tenant at Newark’s Delaware Technology Park, also home to nearly two dozen other technology companies. It currently has 55 employees, and plans to add another 35 by the end of 2023.

Supporting the company’s plans are grants that the company was approved to receive from the Delaware Strategic Fund, a Jobs Performance Grant of nearly $55,000 and a Delaware Lab Space Grant for about $420,000.

“With years of effort, Sepax has continued to grow, supporting our biopharma customers and their research in biologics manufacturing,” said Tingzhou Wu, general manager of Sepax. “We have been actively looking for lab space in Delaware to expand for years. With the tremendous help from Delaware Prosperity Partnership and Delaware Technology Park, the expansion supported by this grant will allow for an increase in important R&D research and strengthen our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to this opportunity for continued growth in the State of Delaware.”