SGS Opens New Laboratory in Freiburg, Germany

09 Jul 2013 --- To meet growing demand for testing services SGS has relocated and expanded its food laboratory in Freiburg im Breisgau to a new location. The Director of Agricultural Services and Consumer Testing Services Food Dr. Christian Hummert officially opened the facility on 20 June.

At the new site 80 employees, laboratory staff and customer service, will work in the new SGS Institut Fresenius lab, which is located in the innovation centre in northern Freiburg's BioTech Park. The new facilities, almost twice as big as the previous site, offer more space for food and beverage analysis equipment.

SGS is a longstanding partner of the food industry. This new laboratory, strategically located in South West Germany, close to France and Switzerland, offers the most comprehensive range of product assessment services.

The SGS laboratory in Freiburg offers testing services for food and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and focuses on microbiological testing and chemical analysis for:

- Meat and meat products
- Wine, distilled liquors & liqueurs, juices, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Cocoa and chocolate products
- Cakes and pastry products, diet foods, frozen food products
- Shelf life tests for frozen and non frozen products

The new location features state-of-the-art facilities with bigger rooms for sensory panels that can accommodate up to nine testers, who can work simultaneously without affecting each other and a separate preparation room for sensory samples. With rooms built according to the German Industry Standard (DIN) accredited tests can be offered.

The personnel are also specialized in the analysis and testing of flavors as well as for residues of veterinary medicines in meat products. Another signature service is aroma analysis, of great importance to beverage and food industry.

This laboratory is a service provider for big retailers, well-known food companies and important industry associations. SGS experts in Freiburg also file survey reports for court cases.  

Originally founded in 1960, this laboratory was one of the first private food labs in Germany. SGS acquired it in 2007.