Cognis boosts plant sterol producing capacity

12/07/05 Cognis has unveiled a new 20 million euros high-performance facility in Illertissen, reinforcing it’s leading position in the worldwide supply of plant sterol esters and conjugated linoleic acids. These two products are available as Cognis’ Vegapure product range and Tonalin CLA respectively.

The new facility at Cognis’ international Nutrition & Health Competence Center in Illertissen represents the greatest single investment Cognis has made since it was founded in 1999. As an industry leader, Cognis uses proprietary technologies and guaranteeing the highest possible standards of quality and safety: not only does it comply with Cognis’ own demanding Food GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), it also meets all the criteria of the forthcoming ISO 22000, which places the highest safety requirements on companies in the food industry.

Cognis’ Illertissen facility adds to Cognis’ sterols production plants in Kankakee (USA) and in Boussens (France). The facility will primarily increase production capacity for its successful Vegapure product line. Due to their ability to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the uptake of this substance in the bloodstream, demand for plant sterol esters is growing all over the world, especially in Europe. Cognis’ offering in this area is characterized by its exceptionally high purity and versatility; for example, sterol esters can transform traditional margarines and dairy products into healthy functional foods. Additionally, the new facility further strengthens Cognis’ global leadership position in the rapidly increasing market for non-GM plant sterol esters.

The Illertissen site will also manufacture Tonalin CLA for the world market. Conjugated linoleic acids produced from safflower oil are notable for their high isometric purity and efficacy, and are used in food products and dietary supplements to reduce body fat mass and maintain lean body mass.

Comments Paul Allen, Group Vice President Nutrition & Health: “The state-of-the-art production facility in Illertissen is a powerful symbol of our commitment to serving the global wellness trend. The combination of our leading technology with the high quality and safety standards at the Illertissen site enables us to offer natural-source products that are tailored to the precise needs of consumers, helping our customers to enter new markets successfully and giving them a significant competitive advantage.”

Cognis is one of the leading manufacturers of natural-source ingredients for the food and health industries, and the opening of the new high-performance facility represents a significant milestone in the development of the Illertissen site as one of the company’s Nutrition & Health Competence Centers, specializing in the growth areas of food technology, functional foods and dietary supplements.