Evonik Expands Biotechnology Manufacturing Capabilities with Major Investment in Slovenská Ľupča to Support Pharmaceutical Growth

Evonik has manufactured the first product from its industrial-scale facility for sustainable biosurfactants that has been completed ahead of schedule at its site in Slovakia. The new plant is the first worldwide to produce sustainable rhamnolipid biosurfactants.
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Evonik hat das erste Produkt aus seiner früher als geplant fertig gestellten großtechnischen Anlage für nachhaltige Biotenside am Standort in der Slowakei hergestellt. Die neue Anlage ist die erste weltweit, die nachhaltige Rhamnolipid-Biotenside produziert.

(IN BRIEF) Evonik is investing €80 million to expand its biotechnology capabilities at its Fermas site in Slovenská Ľupča, Slovakia, adding advanced downstream fermentation technology to support pharmaceutical drug substance manufacturing. The move responds to increasing demand for complex pharmaceutical ingredients and reinforces the site’s role as a key biotechnology hub. This marks the second major investment at the location in recent years, following the launch of a rhamnolipids production facility. The expansion will create around 50 jobs and further strengthen Evonik’s expertise in sustainable, fermentation-based production processes. The initiative aligns with the company’s strategy to enhance its leadership in biotechnology while contributing to sustainable innovation and regional economic growth.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESSEN, 22-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Evonik is advancing its biotechnology capabilities with a new investment of approximately €80 million at its Fermas facility in Slovenská Ľupča. The expansion will introduce advanced downstream fermentation technologies to strengthen the company’s contract manufacturing services for pharmaceutical drug substances, while also generating around 50 new jobs at the site.

The investment reflects Evonik’s response to the growing global demand for increasingly complex pharmaceutical ingredients. By expanding its capabilities, the company aims to provide customers with dependable, scalable, and more sustainable production solutions, reinforcing its role in the life sciences sector.

This development represents the second major investment at the Slovenská Ľupča location in recent years. It follows the establishment of the company’s rhamnolipids production facility, launched in 2022, which marked a significant step forward in sustainable biosurfactant manufacturing. Together, these investments underscore the site’s strategic importance within Evonik’s biotechnology network.

The Fermas facility has evolved into a key center for industrial biotechnology, offering expertise in fermentation processes and downstream processing. Its continued expansion enhances its ability to support biofermentation scale-up and positions the site as a hub for innovation and advanced production technologies. The growth also contributes to regional development, providing opportunities for professionals such as engineers, laboratory specialists, and biotechnologists.

Biotechnological manufacturing methods, particularly fermentation, play a central role in developing next-generation solutions that offer improved sustainability compared to traditional production approaches. These processes align with Evonik’s broader ambition to deliver environmentally responsible products and solutions across its portfolio.

The Slovenská Ľupča site has a long history, having been established in 1992 as a joint venture between Degussa AG and Biotika a.s. It became fully integrated into Evonik in 1998 and has since diversified its production capabilities beyond amino acids into a wide range of fermentation-based products used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, and animal nutrition.

In 2024, the company achieved a milestone by becoming the first in the world to manufacture rhamnolipid biosurfactants on an industrial scale, further strengthening its position in sustainable specialty chemicals. Today, the Fermas site stands as one of Evonik’s leading biotechnology centers, supporting both innovation and large-scale production for global markets.

Further information:

More about Evonik’s CDMO drug substance business

More about Evonik’s precision fermentation capabilities

Evonik goes beyond the boundaries of chemistry with its combination of innovative strength and leading technological expertise. The global chemical company, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is active in more than 100 countries and generated sales of €14.1 billion and earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.9 billion in 2025. The common motivation of the approximately 31,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailor-made products and solutions as a superforce for industry, thereby improving people’s lives. In all markets. Every day.

The Custom Solutions segment focuses on innovation-driven, tailor-made solutions for customers in specific growth markets. These solutions include additives for coatings, adhesives and sealants, polyurethane foams and lubricants, catalysts, and ingredients for the cosmetics, cleaning and pharmaceutical industries. In 2025, the segment generated sales of €5.4 billion with around 9,500 employees.

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

Media Contacts:

Janusz Berger
Head of Market Communications Health Care
Spoken languages: german, english, polish
+49 173 6986099
janusz.berger@evonik.com

SOURCE: Evonik