The Eppendorf Group says the expansion of its site in northern Germany will increase production capacity for life science consumables by around 30%.

Construction of two production halls at Eppendorf’s site in Oldenburg in Holstein are set to begin next year in efforts to increase the firm’s laboratory consumables’ volume.

Julie Brahms, a spokesperson from the firm, told Bioprocess Insider the expansion represents an investment of about €20 million ($22 million) and – from 2021 when production begins – will increase Eppendorf’s consumables capacity by around 30%.

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The need to expand is “due to a constantly increasing demand of our high-quality consumables, which are produced in Oldenburg for the global market,” she said.

“The production site in Oldenburg in Holstein produces a wide range of high quality consumables for the global market such as pipette tips for automation and manual use, positive displacement tips, test tubes, cell culture consumables microtiter- and PCR plates and single-use bioreactor vessels.”

The site employs around 400 people, but more jobs will be created through this latest expansion.

Five-year plan

The news is the latest in a series of expansions at the German production site. Last year, an automated high-bay storage facility with around 13,000 pallet bays went into operation.

“We do see a great increase in the demand for bioprocessing products from Eppendorf and we are focusing on improving our products in terms of digitalization and automation,” said Brahms.

She added the expansion falls into Eppendorf’s plans to “significantly improve our market share” within the next five years.

“Eppendorf focuses to be an expert partner for customers in bioprocess upstream arena, improving customers’ efficiency and productivity with integrated solutions applying innovation, digitalization & automation.

“Within the next five years we would like to solidify and enlarge our market share based on our core competencies: innovation and automation applied to upstream bioprocess controller and software incl. rigid wall single use bioreactors as well as digitalization combined with relevant services based on Eppendorf’s digitalization platform VisioNize.”