CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBLX) announced today that it has signed a global, exclusive distribution agreement with Kolar Filtration LLC for PHA-based denitrification pellets in water treatment applications including ornamental and hobby aquaria, ornamental ponds and fresh/salt water hatcheries and aqua farming. Under the agreement, Kolar will promote and market PHA-based denitrification pellets and will assume responsibility for servicing Metabolix’s current roster of customers for DP9002 denitrification pellets.
Kolar has purchased an initial supply of PHA-based denitrification pellets, and Metabolix anticipates providing a regular supply of bulk PHA denitrification pellets to Kolar under the agreement to enable it to serve and grow the market. Additionally, through its sister division Sterling Brands, Kolar will compound finished products such as DP9002 pellets moving forward. With this single point of focus, Kolar will be able to provide both product and continuity to Metabolix’s current DP9002 customers.
For several years, Metabolix has supplied DP9002 pellets for water treatment applications to customers in the hobby aquarium supply business. DP9002 pellets are easily packaged in aquarium filtration cartridge systems where the pellets improve water quality by providing a carbon source in addition to supporting growth of beneficial microbes that reduce the presence of nitrates and phosphates in water.
“We are pleased to partner with Kolar Filtration for the marketing and distribution of PHA-based denitrification pellets,” said Max Senechal, vice president commercial development of Metabolix. “Based on their expertise in the market, we have every confidence that they will effectively support our existing customer base as well as undertake market development activities to expand the market opportunity for PHA-based denitrification products in both existing and new water treatment applications.”
“We are excited about representing the Metabolix denitrification product line and see PHA biopolymer technology as a natural and effective water treatment solution,” said Richard Renjilian, president of Kolar Filtration. “The denitrification product line developed by Metabolix relies on properties of the biopolymer to activate natural microbial action to help balance water chemistry in order to maintain a healthy environment for fish and coral. We will be working with Metabolix scientists and the current user base of Metabolix PHA-based denitrification products to grow the use of these products in hobby aquaria and to expand this innovative material into fresh water ponds, hatcheries and commercial aqua farming applications where nitrate and ammonia require remediation.”
About Kolar Filtration
Kolar Filtration specializes in the treatment of non-potable water and develops advanced materials and devices to tackle problems from phosphates, biologicals, heavy metals, nitrates or sediments. Kolar Filtration is part of a group of companies that manufacture specialized plastic compounds and plastic products that are utilized by a wide range of consumers and industries.
About Metabolix
Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven specialty materials company focused on delivering high-performance biopolymer solutions to customers in the plastics industry. Metabolix’s Mirel® biopolymers, which are derived from renewable resources, are a family of biobased performance additives and specialty resins based on PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates). Metabolix’s proprietary biotechnology platform enables the creation of specialty biopolymers for use in a broad range of applications such as construction and packaging materials, as well as industrial, consumer and personal care products.
For more information, please visit www.metabolix.com. (MBLX-G)
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Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding expected activities under the distribution agreement, expectations for ongoing supply of PHA denitrification pellets, growing the use of PHA denitrification products in hobby aquaria and expanding the market opportunity for PHA denitrification products constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including the risks and uncertainties detailed in Metabolix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Metabolix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.