Argenta to build on 'surprise' award win

Doug Cleverly said Argenta planned to take on 11 more employees this year. Photo / Supplied

A little-known Kiwi biotech firm making big waves overseas hopes the industry award it received last night will help build its profile in New Zealand.

Manukau-based Argenta received the NZBIO Emerging Company of the Year Award in a ceremony held at SkyCity.

The company works with multi-national pharmaceutical companies and smaller start-up firms to develop products for use in animal health, and exports its products and services to 59 countries around the world.

Argenta chief executive Doug Cleverly found out about the award on Monday and said it came as "a bit of a surprise".

The award would contribute towards Argenta's profile in New Zealand - a profile it lacked because of the export-based nature of the business, he said.

"When we go to the market to employ people it's very important to have some level of a profile in New Zealand," he said.

Cleverly said the business that grew into Argenta started in 2003 with just his business partner and a forklift driver.

In 2006 that company bought out NuFarm, took over its Manukau manufacturing facility, and Argenta was born.

Argenta employs 115 staff at its Manukau site and has 15 scientists working at its US subsidiary - AlcheraBio.

Cleverly said the company would be recruiting 11 more employees this year to cope with manufacturing demand, which was expected to rise by 35 per cent this year.

Judges of the NZBIO awards said they selected Argenta because of its rapid growth in a sophisticated area of biotech manufacturing, research and development.

NZBIO chief executive Bronwyn Dilley said Argenta's success was proof that New Zealand could grow "world first, world class" companies.