- WACKER invested €30 million in modernizing its León site.
- The site has an 800 m³ fermentation capacity.
- Production will ramp up to full capacity in the next few months.
- Cystine and cysteine are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Investment and Modernization
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS has invested €30 million to modernize its new site in León, Spain. Over the past eighteen months, the company has upgraded part of the 800 m³ fermentation capacity acquired in 2016 and built a new production line for cystine.
Production and Capacity
The new facilities will be gradually qualified and ramped up to full capacity in the coming months. This expansion allows WACKER to meet the increasing global demand for cystine and cysteine, which are essential in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Applications of Cystine and Cysteine
Cystine and its derivative cysteine are widely used in various sectors. In the food industry, they are used to manufacture flavorings and improve dough processing in baked goods. In the pharmaceutical sector, cysteine serves as an expectorant in cough medicines. Additionally, in cosmetics, it acts as a free-radical scavenger.
Innovative Production Process
WACKER is the first company to produce cystine through a patented biotech fermentation process using entirely plant-based and inorganic raw materials. This method ensures that WACKER's cystine and cysteine are purely vegetarian, making them particularly safe for use in food and pharmaceutical products. The company received the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Environmental Prize in 2008 for this innovative production process.
