Sustainable advanced manufacturing start-up founded by Professor Kate Black backed by NPIF II to scale in Liverpool
A female founded advanced manufacturing business has raised £600k of investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II to scale-up the solutions it provides to manufacturers across the world.
Liverpool-based Atomik AM, which creates sustainable materials and patented technologies to support scalable and efficient advanced manufacturing, was founded in October 2022 by Professor Kate Black, a professor of manufacturing at the University of Liverpool.
Since then, Kate has scaled the business to a team of 10 people, working in partnership with multi-nationals Unilever and Ricoh, as well as developing and patenting its own IP.
Atomik AM has raised the money from NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance, which is managed by Praetura Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, to grow its Liverpool City Region-based team by 40% and explore larger premises, as it looks to scale further in region.
According to the latest government statistics, published in 2024, the manufacturing sector contributed 16% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, demonstrating the opportunity to help firms reduce their carbon output and contribute to meeting net zero.
Currently Atomik AM is in the process of patenting a series of new and innovative manufacturing products, including its Universal Binder, a “glue” used specifically in 3D metal printing to help companies in the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors produce key parts at scale.
Atomik AM has also developed a sustainable process for turning aluminium metal waste into more durable products than their aluminium alloy counterparts, with the excess waste from this process then recycled into energy, representing a more end-to-end approach to sustainability.
The company, which also produces inks for 2D sensor printing and specialist pastes used to in electronic coatings, has delivered solutions to help companies remove unnecessary resources like water out of their manufacturing processes, with water a scarce commodity in parts of the world.
This latest funding also follows a £125k investment from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority-backed LYVA Labs, who invested in Atomik AM earlier this year.
Professor Kate Black, CEO and founder of Atomik AM, said: “At Atomik AM, we believe that true innovation starts with putting materials and sustainability first. This investment will allow us to grow our team and scale our patented technologies, accelerating our ability to deliver cleaner, more efficient manufacturing solutions. From our base in Liverpool, we’re proud to lead this transformation and work with global partners to set a new benchmark for sustainable, materials-led innovation in advanced manufacturing.”
Louise Chapman, NPIF II fund principal at Praetura Ventures, said: “Atomik AM prides itself on a solutions-focused way of working. In other words, taking a holistic approach to vastly improve existing processes instead of fixing individual problems. Kate’s enthusiasm and determination to make the advanced manufacturing space truly sustainable is reflected in the incredible work done by Atomik AM so far. Because of this, we jumped at the opportunity to support a female founder scaling a business of this nature from the Liverpool City Region, an area with a long history and reputation for manufacturing.”
Sue Barnard, senior investment manager at British Business Bank, said: “Finding ways to lower our greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors is of paramount importance, and it is fantastic to see a fast-growing North West business, backed by NPIF II, look to do this in the manufacturing area. Its plans for expansion and team growth are some of the transformational change that gaining access to finance can unlock.”
Akshay Bhatnagar, head of investment, LYVA Labs, added: “We are delighted that Atomik has secured investment from NPIF II and Praetura. This is great news for the Liverpool City Region. We are excited to be working with Praetura to support Kate and the team to accelerate the additive manufacturing revolution which is underway.”
Praetura Ventures was advised by TLT LLP with Harper James supporting Atomik AM.