BELFAST firm which makes testing equipment for catalytic converters has won a £600,000 deal in the United States. Catagen will supply its Maxcat product to American wing of parts manufacturer Mahle.
A spin-out from Queen's University, Belfast, the company used its patented technology, developed over several years, to produce two smaller products for the automotive industry - Labcat and Testcat.
The Maxcat is capable of testing four catalyst assemblies at once.
It recreates engine exhaust gas composition, flow rates and temperatures to provide safe and clean testing that replicates traditional engine dynamometerbased testing at significantly lower cost.
The development of Maxcat was supported by £374,000 from Invest Northern Ireland.
Catagen co-founder and chief executive Dr Andrew Woods said: "The development of Maxcat is a really significant moment for Catagen and the future of catalyst testing. The industry now has a viable, full size, much more environmentally friendly alternative method to age and test catalysts."
The first Maxcat machine has been completed and will soon be installed in the USA at the Michigan facility of Mahle Powertrain. Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI's executive director of business solutions, said: "This unique product, which uses cutting-edge technology developed locally, could allow Catagen to capture a significant portion of the catalyst testing and ageing marketplace globally. "It is very encouraging to see a product that was developed with our R&D support deliver such a significant export deal for the company. It is an excellent example of how investing in R&D can lead to real rewards."