Catagen, a spin-out of Queen’s University Belfast, has secured a deal worth £700,000 ($1.17m) which will see the Northern Ireland-based firm expand into the US.

The company is developing catalyst testing equipment. The deal will see its largest testing product, the Maxcat, used by automotive firm Mahle at its US facility of its subsidiary Mahle Powertrain.

Andrew Woods, chief executive of Catagen, said: “The partnership between Mahle Powertrain LLC and Catagen will help further accelerate introduction into the US market,…