A Measured Response

Specialists in animal nutrition and health, feed and forage and combinable crops analytical testing

It Pays to Measure

In today’s fast moving business environment evidence-based decision making is essential to good management. But that is by no means the only reason that it pays to measure. Proving compliance with regulatory requirements and showing that customers’ quality expectations have been met are equally important. Measurement also allows businesses to check their own performance, paving the way for continuous improvement.

Little wonder that demand for accurate, independent and fully accredited analytical laboratory services has been rising, which is where Sciantec comes in.

Sciantec has the ability to assess, quantify, evaluate and appraise the raw materials for animal feedstuffs, finished feeds, pharmaceutical compounds, pre-mixes, forages, combinable grains and pulses. Animal nutrition activities include feeds for all agricultural livestock, companion animals, the equine sector and aquaculture. The laboratory also provides a full microbiological testing service for the group and operates proficiency testing schemes in both the UK and internationally.

All of this makes us the UK’s foremost independent and internationally accredited analytical laboratory specialising in animal nutrition, health, feed and forage and combinable crops testing.

The Sciantec teamhas all the expertise,qualifications anddedication you needand in good measure.

Our PeoplePeople make the business what it is. No matter how technologically advanced and sophisticated the equipment is, careful, methodical people, individuals who can provide that all important ‘reasonability check’ are essential to ensure accurate and timely analyses.

In addition, it is people who have the knowledge,

insight and innovative spark to develop the most

suitable analytical methods to provide the data in

the format that the customer needs. This ability to

devise a testing regime to meet specific customer

requirements has become a particular area of

expertise for Sciantec and the company has a

well deserved reputation for innovation.

In total we employ some 55 people; many of whom

hold degrees and post graduate qualifications in

their specialisms. Others have joined the company

straight from school and built-up their practical

expertise through ‘on-the-job’ and ‘technical’ training.

Finding time for training and staff development

is a priority as it is so important to the future of

our business.

There is also a blend of younger and older

employees providing a balanced approach

to problem-solving.

This, combined with analytical productivity

innovations and the specialist use of IT within

the Laboratory Information Management System

(LIMS) ensures we are continually focusing on our

customers’ day-to-day requirements.

Based at Cawood in North Yorkshire, Sciantec offers a comprehensive analytical testing capability for animal nutrition encompassing a range of techniques from classical wet chemistry through to NIR (Near-Infrared) analysis methods. In total we can provide over 400 different ‘off-the-shelf’ analytical tests. In addition we regularly work with customers providing advice on sampling and testing schedules, setting up mixer trials and conducting statistical summaries to allow the review and assessment of quality control programmes. We also provide pharmaceutical recovery and residue testing analysis.

Customers include blue-chip companies, livestock

advisory consultancies, animal feed and pre-mix

manufacturers, pharmaceutical and diagnostics

businesses, contract research organisations,

food producers and other specialist laboratories.

Our Performance

Customers expect a cost effective service with accurate results provided in as short a time as possible so, unsurprisingly, that is what we aim to deliver.

Measuring success

Sciantec completes over 1.5 million analytical tests on customers’ samples every year. Here are some of the ways in which we measure our success:

• By completing 97.5% of all routine nutrition tests within target turnaround times

• By ensuring that over 80% of routine nutritional tests reported are included within Sciantec’s UKAS accreditation scope

• By maintaining and expanding our range of internationally recognised accredited methods

• By participating in 12 independent ‘Proficiency Schemes’ to support our quality standards

• By qualified personnel reviewing 100% of client results prior to reporting

• By monitoring customer service levels with the aim of responding to all customer enquiries within 24 hours

• Of Sciantec’s three initial customers, two remain in business and still use Sciantec today.

A measure of quality

The quality and accuracy of the tests conducted is

of paramount importance. All other factors, including

speed of service, value for money and so on, count

for nothing if the results are wrong. To ensure accuracy

day in, day out, Sciantec has a robust internal quality

system. At the heart of this system is accreditation by

UKAS to the internationally recognised standard for

competence – ISO/IEC 17025. UKAS accreditation is

specific to particular sample types and methods. The

accreditation we hold covers a range of chemistry, NIR

and microbiological tests in the animal nutrition and

food sectors.

Sciantec is also approved by DEFRA under the Animal

By-Products Regulations 2011, by the Agricultural

Industries Confederation under the Trade Assurance

Scheme for Combinable Crops and by the GAFTA Trade

Assurance Scheme.

Scheme Year 2009/10

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Our Pedigree

The origins of Sciantec go back to the 1900s when a special animal nutrition laboratory was first established in Selby by the British Oil and Cake Mills, later BOCM. However it wasn’t until 1991 that the name Sciantec Analytical Services came into existence providing independent specialised testing services to the animal feed and health sectors.

Over the past 20 years the business has seen considerable expansion and investment as the analytical services sector has grown in importance and Sciantec has become a leading player within it.

From 2 employees to 55 employees.

From 4,000 samples analysed a year to over 200,000 and growing.

From 19 standard tests to over 450.

From basic second-hand analytical equipment costing a few thousand to highly automated analytical systems costing millions.

From the ability to process 20 raw material/feed samples a day to over 1,000.

From pen and paper records to state of the art LIMS system.

From 3 customers to more than 1,200 on the customer database and growing.

Since 1991 we have seen a lot of changes, here are just a few more notable ones.

A Decade of Expansion

Then & Now

NRM relocates from the Selby laboratory into the brand new, purpose built laboratory facility at Stockbridge Technology Centre at Cawood (near York). Sciantec’s analytical portfolio expands into the provision of animal health product testing.

2003

Sciantec’s turnover moves into seven figures for the first time.

2004

The Banbury-based Central Laboratories is acquired. This business has been fully integrated into the Yorkshire operation widening the scope of the analytical capability offered.

2008

Detailed in-house method development leads to a significant increase in the analytical portfolio offered.

2012

Sciantec joins NRM Laboratories under the holding company of Cawood Scientific and relocates to the current Cawood site. At the same time the company takes on the NRM animal feed testing business already based at Cawood.

2006

Sciantec assists in the establishment of a new contract pharmaceutical testing laboratory, Select Pharma Ltd.

2009

Sir Ben Gill is appointed Chairman and the Cawood group turnover approaches £8m with some 130 experienced and qualified staff.

2011

Development and integration of a state-of-the-art Laboratory Information Management System. With investment from NVM private equity a management buyout and new investment is secured.

2010

Sciantec gains UKAS accreditation for its main analytical schedule.

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Our Promise

For the future, Sciantec is committed to providing a comprehensive and confidential analytical service for its customers within the UK and, increasingly, in the rest of Europe.

We will invest in our staff, our services and the scientific equipment required to meet changing market demands to ensure we continue to offer an unrivalled portfolio and a one stop test shop. This will mean working alongside customers to ensure their medium and long term needs are met and it will require us to guard our independence and maintain accreditation to the highest standards.

To conclude, the focus of our activities will be accuracy, consistency, timeliness, service development and confidentiality and that is a truly measured response to our customers’ analytical needs.

Sciantec Analytical Services is part of Cawood Scientific, a company dedicated to the delivery of sound science to help customers manage their businesses effectively and profitably.

Together the companies that make up Cawood

Scientific provide the UK’s largest independent one-stop

shop for analytical testing services to support:

• Agricultural and horticultural production

• Animal nutrition for all agricultural livestock as

well as for companion animals, the equine sector

and aquaculture

• Livestock forage production

• Amenity grounds such as golf courses, sports fields

and parks

• Environmental services such as the organic waste,

contaminated land and the renewable energy sectors.

The Cawood Connection

Sciantec Analytical Services Ltd. Stockbridge Technology Centre Cawood North Yorkshire YO8 3SD

Tel: 01757 242 400 Fax: 01757 242 401Email: enquiries@sciantec.uk.com

www.sciantec.uk.com

Part of the Cawood Scientific Group