LYOCONTRACT invests USD54M in new freeze-drying facility in Germany

GERMANY—German contract manufacturer LYOCONTRACT is experiencing growing demand for freeze-dried parenteral products in vials.

The company, which has operated in Ilsenburg, Germany, since 2012, marked a significant milestone on March 11, 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony for one of its largest investments to date.

The expansion project carries a price tag of approximately 50 million euros ($54 million) and will substantially increase the company’s production capacity.

LYOCONTRACT has partnered with Syntegon, a leading equipment supplier, to install a complete filling and lyophilization line at the new facility.

Strategic growth plans

Tino Galgon, Managing Director of LYOCONTRACT, emphasized that the groundbreaking ceremony represents a crucial step toward the company’s future growth.

He outlined an ambitious vision to position LYOCONTRACT as a premier contract manufacturer for sterile freeze-dried products of the highest quality.

The facility will receive new equipment in phases, with the first production line already in the planning stages.

Syntegon will deliver this initial line in summer 2027, providing the complete system and managing the entire project from start to finish.

Galgon stressed the importance of selecting the right partners for such an ambitious undertaking.

He noted that Syntegon’s ability to handle the project from a single source offers significant advantages in terms of coordination and execution.

Comprehensive technology partnership

Dr. Matthias Wagner, Managing Director of Syntegon Telstar, attended the groundbreaking ceremony and highlighted recent developments in his company’s capabilities.

Since merging the Syntegon and Telstar portfolios in October 2024, the combined entity has significantly expanded its product offering.

Wagner explained that customers now benefit from comprehensive production lines with fewer interfaces and a single point of contact throughout the equipment’s entire lifecycle.

He expressed pride in LYOCONTRACT’s decision to trust Syntegon with this major project and enthusiasm about the developing partnership.

Advanced production capabilities

The new line will encompass the complete production process, featuring a filling and closing machine with an integrated isolator, a loading and unloading system, and a freeze-dryer.

Galgon outlined several critical requirements that guided the equipment selection process.

The line must comply with EU GMP Annex 1 regulatory requirements from day one while offering flexibility to handle different products and container sizes.

Additionally, the system must deliver high performance with minimal downtime to maximize operational efficiency.

Milestone for future growth

This project represents Syntegon’s first vial project with integrated freeze-dryers in Germany, marking an important milestone for the company’s expansion strategy.

Wagner reported highly positive feedback on the Telstar integration, with several new customer projects worldwide already demonstrating the advantages of working with a single partner.

He emphasized that these projects showcase superior cooperation and technological implementation compared to multi-vendor approaches.

Wagner expressed particular satisfaction about demonstrating these capabilities through the partnership with LYOCONTRACT.