“With our new biotechnology pilot plant closely connected with the ingredients production site, Firmenich provides integrated biotech development all the way down to the finished product, without any gaps,” said Genevieve Berger, chief research officer at Firmenich.
“Opening a new era in ingredients creation, our pilot plant and laboratory harnesses new technologies to improve clean label solutions, while the latest digital innovation maximizes efficiency.”
Operational this month, the pilot plant at La Plaine, close to Geneva, is a cornerstone for new ingredients for both perfumery and flavors, enabling the development of the most efficient and high-quality production processes through biotechnology or natural extraction, the company said. Harnessing digital technology for increased automation, the pilot plant is able to move from single to continuous batch process, increasing efficiency, speed and reducing the use of raw materials.
The new pilot plant features efficient bioreactors to minimize both the amount of waste produced and energy consumed.
Upcycling an existing building at the Firmenich site in La Plaine, the new facility benefits from full synergies with the ingredients production plant. Safety and environmental features were also designed into the new pilot plant and laboratory.
“Our new pilot plant provides greater flexibility to respond to customer needs in product development,” said Sarah Reisinger, senior vice president research operations, Firmenich.
“Capable of handling multiple projects simultaneously, it also enables small scale production of trial batches for formulation or testing and regulatory validation.”