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Ionix Advanced Technologies was honoured to welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon. Rachel Reeves MP, to officially open its new Advanced Materials Manufacturing Facility and Extreme Environment Sensor Centre of Excellence in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Speaking at the event, Ionix CEO Tim Stevenson said:

“We’re proud to welcome the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to open our new facility. Our investment reflects our belief in the UK’s potential to lead in advanced materials and sensor technologies. Our team, built from local talent and global ambition, is delivering innovations that make extreme environments measurable, safe, and intelligent.”

Joined by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and representatives from principle investors IP Group & Parkwalk, the visit marked a significant milestone in Ionix’s journey as a global leader in extreme environment sensing technologies. During the tour, the Chancellor was shown cutting-edge innovations developed by Ionix, including:

• Advanced piezo-ceramics used to measure gas flow in the UK’s emerging hydrogen gas network, supporting the transition to clean energy.
• Ultrasonic monitoring systems that deliver real-time data on steam erosion and molten lead corrosion, enhancing safety and performance in nuclear and new small modular reactor (SMR) plants.
• High-temperature sensors designed for integration into next-generation battery storage technologies, enabling continuous safety monitoring under extreme conditions.

These technologies are underpinned by Ionix’s proprietary HPZ™ piezoceramic material, which offers exceptional performance in high-temperature, high-radiation, and high-pressure environments.

Greg Smith, CEO of IP Group, commented: “As long-term investors in Ionix, IP Group and Parkwalk are proud to see the company’s continued growth and success. The opening of this new manufacturing facility marks an important milestone, accelerating a UK-innovation to more applications and markets. We wish the team every success as they take this next step for the business whilst strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced technologies.”

Supporting the UK’s Industrial Strategy

Ionix plays a pivotal role in advancing the UK’s industrial strategy by delivering resilient, high-value manufacturing capabilities in sectors such as energy, aviation, and critical infrastructure. The company’s innovations directly support national goals toward a clean energy transition, including nuclear, electrification and sustainable fuels, helping to secure the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced engineering.

Ionix has successfully built a global export portfolio, supplying advanced sensing solutions across Europe, North America, and Asia. Its products are deployed in some of the world’s most demanding industrial settings, enabling real-time asset intelligence and operational safety.

Investing in Regional Talent and Supply Chains

A cornerstone of Ionix’s success is its commitment to regional development. The company has cultivated a highly skilled workforce drawn from Northern Powerhouse universities and colleges, including the Universities of Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. Through a blend of internships, vocational training, and graduate programmes, Ionix continues to invest in the next generation of materials scientists and sensor engineers.

Ionix also maintains a robust UK and local supply chain, ensuring resilience and sustainability in its manufacturing operations. This commitment to domestic capability supports national industrial strategy and strengthens the UK’s position in advanced manufacturing.

Rachel Reeves said:

“I was delighted to open the new facility at Ionix in my constituency today. Growth is the number one mission of this Government and businesses like Ionix showcase the great potential that Britain has to lead in sectors such as advanced manufacturing.”

The opening ceremony concluded with a demonstration of Ionix’s latest sensor platforms and a discussion on industrial innovation, export growth, and skills development in the North.

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Contact: 

Savneesh Bhogal ( [email protected] )

Ionix Advanced Technologies Ltd,
Leeds, LS13 4LQ. UK

+44 (0) 113 512 6070
www.ionix.at

About Ionix:

Ionix’s mission is to create value for our customers by facilitating processes, operations and measurements in extreme environments. By offering next generation sensor technology to enable on-stream, real-time intelligence - powering the Energy transformation.

At the heart of our HotSense ultrasonic sensor systems is our proprietary HPZ piezoelectric material technology. Capable of operating continuously in extreme environments from -200 to +600 °C, in explosive atmospheres, in high-pressure/subsea applications and with outstanding resistance to radiation. Built on proven and trusted technology, with thousands of sensors deployed to monitor the health of critical infrastructure, metering high-temperature liquids, flare gases and steam and delivering process intelligence to energy systems, Ionix delivers scaleable, high-value integrated sensors to enable its customers to access new, demanding applications.

Originating as a spin-out from the University of Leeds in 2011, Ionix has grown into a key supplier to the world’s major energy plant and systems providers to enable their digital transformation goals.