Evonik is expanding biotechnology production at its Fermas site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia. An investment of €80 million will see the development of downstream fermentation capacity to support demand for contract manufacturing services at Evonik’s drug substance business. The extra capacity will be used for pharmaceutical ingredients and lead to the creation of 50 new jobs.
The company says that this latest development marks the “second major financial commitment” at Fermas in recent years. During 2022, the company started the construction of a new production plant for bio-based and fully biodegradable rhamnolipids, which are biosurfactants and serve as active ingredients in shower gels and detergents.
Demand for environmentally friendly surfactants is growing rapidly, and Evonik says that during 2024 it became the first company in the world to produce industrial scale rhamnolipid biosurfactants.
Evonik adds that industrial biotechnology at the Fermis site has become one of its core strengths, providing career opportunities for biotechnologists, laboratory technicians, engineers and other specialists. “The site continues to expand its capacity for biofermentation scale-up and down stream processing, reinforcing its position as a hub for advanced biotechnology production,” Evonik said.
Commenting on the latest investment Guyido Skudlarek, head of the Evonik Health Care Business line said: “With demand for complex pharmaceutical ingredients continuing to rise, our enhanced biotechnology capabilities will enable us to support customers with reliable, scalable, and sustainable production.”
In a separate development, Evonik has completed the construction of a 20 000 tonnes/year speciality-grade hydrogen peroxide facility in Leshan, China. The plant, which is a joint venture between Evonik and Fuhua Tongda Chemicals Company, will produce speciality-grade hydrogen peroxide for use in industries such as photovoltaics and semiconductors.
Based on technology which has been licensed from Evonik’s Active Oxygens business line, the facility uses industrial-grade hydrogen peroxide produced by Fuhua as feedstock. The first commercial volumes from the new facility are expected during the second quarter of 2026 and will meet growing regional demand.
Hydrogen peroxide is used in a range of industrial applications and breaks down into oxygen and water.
Dr. Claus Rettig, interim CFO of Evonik and President of Evonik Asia Pacific, added: “This facility will strengthen Evonik’s supply capability and service efficiency in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China.”
Further reading:
- Croda releases first biotechnology report
- EU Biotech Act: Europe's plan to catch-up with the competition
- Autonomous labs and AI to boost biotech research
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