Sartorius lines up investments for new units

Sartorius AG, the German-based laboratory and process technology major in biotechnology and mechatronics, is planning to make a major capital investment in India. The investment will be towards setting up an integrated production facility as well as an R&D laboratory.

The German multinational would invest a "substantial" amount in the proposed capacity expansion project in the country, said Joachim Kreuzburg, group CEO.

Kreuzburg said the projects in India will be implemented in multiple phases. It will initially invest about $5 million. With the proposed new production facility, the ¤ 467.6 million Sartorious will integrate its existing five production plants into one new facility.The company already has a significant market presence in India.

"We will also look into expansion of our R&D team in India with more scientists and engineers," Kreuzburg said.

Currently, Sartorius has production facilities in Europe, Asia and America, as well as sales subsidiaries and local commercial agencies in more than 110 countries. It has a total work force of nearly 3,750.

Headquartered in the university town of Goettingen, Germany, Sartorius was founded in 1870. The company has the distinction of pioneering several developments and innovations, especially in laboratory weighing and separation technologies.

Since 1996, Sartorius has not only expanded its operations globally with its seven group brands, but has also successfully positioned itself in three different technology segments "" biotechnology, mechatronics and environmental technology.

Sartorius India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sartorius AG, expects 20 per cent growth in the domestic market. At present, it has total revenues of $18 million and expects it to touch $25 million next year.

Some of the company's stellar innovations include the development of the Sartorius nanogram balance, which holds the world record for the most precise weighing and creation of the world's first ultra-microbalance with a weighing capacity featuring a resolution of 21 million digits.

Sartorius India now operates one of only four system-manufacturing facilities of the Sartorius Group, in Bangalore. The company has built itself a strong base of customers.

Among the achievements of the Indian arm of Sartorius is the design and execution of one of the largest human albumin facilities in the world, which was set up in China.

Sartorius has also developed a strong export market for its biotech engineering systems and has been serving clients in USA, Germany, Australia, China, Cuba, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand and UAE.Sartorius supplies an extensive range of products and solutions.

The biotechnology division focuses on filtration and separation products, bioreactors and proteomics that find applications such as liquid and air filtration, cell culture, ultra pure water systems, fermentation and process validation among others.

While, the mechatronics division manufactures equipment and systems, which feature weighing, measurement and automation technology for laboratory and industrial applications, as well as hydrodynamic bearings.

Sartorius mechatronics applications range from heavy-duty weighbridges and tank and silo weighing equipment to high precision instruments like laboratory balances, moisture analysers and laboratory automation equipment.

Sartorius' key customers are from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage industries and from numerous research and educational institutes.