Evonik Industries AG broke ground on September 14 on a biotechnology expansion project at its Fermas site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia. The project represents an investment totaling approximately €80 million and is expected to be completed in early 2028, adding about 50 jobs locally. It is Evonik’s second major investment at the site in recent years, following the construction of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant production plant launched in 2022.
Expansion Focus: Introducing Downstream Fermentation Technologies
The core of the expansion is the introduction of advanced downstream fermentation and separation/purification technologies. After microorganisms synthesize target products, they must undergo separation, purification, concentration, crystallization, or drying to obtain products that meet pharmaceutical quality requirements. For molecules with complex structures, sensitive stability, or strict impurity control, downstream processing often determines final yield, purity, cost, and whether a project can be successfully scaled up. This investment adds an industrial platform that spans from strains and fermentation to compliant product delivery, enhancing the development and manufacturing of complex pharmaceutical intermediates.
Lauren Kjeldsen, member of Evonik’s Executive Board and Chief Operating Officer of the Custom Solutions business segment, said at the groundbreaking ceremony: “The start of this project is an important step in our strategy to expand our biotechnology platform. Through this project, we will provide customers with innovative, scalable, and sustainable production solutions.”
Fermas Site: From Amino Acid Plant to Biotechnology Hub
The Fermas site was founded in 1992 as a joint venture between Degussa AG and Biotika a.s., initially focusing on the production of amino acids for animal nutrition. In 1998, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik and gradually developed into a specialized manufacturer centered on fermentation processes, with products covering pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, and animal nutrition. In 2024, Evonik commissioned the world’s first industrial-scale rhamnolipid biosurfactant production plant at the site, making it an important node in the field of sustainable specialty chemicals.
The site currently has 23 fermenters and reconfigurable downstream processing units, capable of using a variety of microorganisms to produce biosurfactants, pharmaceutical ingredients, feed additives, biopolymers, and small molecules from agricultural raw materials. The site already uses 100% green electricity and employs renewable and certified raw materials in some production processes.
Demand for Pharmaceutical CDMO Continues to Rise
Guido Skudlarek, head of Evonik’s pharmaceutical health business line, said global demand for complex pharmaceutical ingredients continues to rise, and this investment will enable Evonik to provide customers with more reliable, scalable, and sustainable production solutions. Compared with conventional chemical synthesis, fermentation-based processes can reduce the use of organic solvents and lower waste generation in the production of certain intermediates.
Evonik reported sales of €14.1 billion in fiscal year 2025, with adjusted EBITDA of €1.9 billion and approximately 31,000 employees worldwide. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region reached €3.213 billion in fiscal year 2025, with about 5,000 employees and more than 50 production sites.
Miroslav Havlik, General Manager of the Fermas site, said: “This investment demonstrates the company’s strong confidence in the development of biotechnology and recognizes the site’s ability to translate innovations into industrial-scale production.”
