Health & Nutrition

The Health & Nutrition Business Unit produces and markets essential amino acids, mainly for animal nutrition and for specialties for the pharmaceuticals industry. Key success factors are years of experience of chemical synthesis and biotechnology, which we regard as a key growth driver for the Evonik Group. In 2012, this business unit’s sales were more than Euro 2.1 billion. Its activities are grouped in the Methionine, Bioproducts, Health Care and CyPlus Technologies Business Lines.

Through its Methionine and Bioproducts Business Lines, Evonik is the only company in the world that offers all four key amino acids for animal nutrition: methionine, lysine, threonine and tryptophan. In our view, this balanced portfolio gives us a competitive advantage. We are the world leader in DL-methionine thanks to our access to the global market, our extensive service offering and our production technology. We also have excellent technological positions in L-lysine, 
L-threonine and L-tryptophan produced by fermentation. Moreover, we are steadily improving on this through intensive research focused on efficiency and the use of raw materials and energy. The Methionine and Bioproducts Business Lines market amino acids for animal nutrition via a common global distribution platform.

All our amino acids are used as protein building blocks, especially in nutrition tailored to the needs of poultry and pigs. An optimal supply of amino acids means that livestock needs less feed and also reduces excretion of nitrogen and other undigested nutrients. That improves the carbon footprint of livestock farming and diminishes overfertilization of the soil. Alongside the ecological benefits, selective use of amino acids improves the efficiency of livestock farming and thus the production of food for human consumption. Sound applications know-how is vital for economically beneficial and environmentally compatible use of amino acids. Our global service and distribution network spanning 120 countries therefore plays an important role in our amino acids business. Our wide-ranging services for the value chain include analytical services for customized formulation of feeds, and fully automated dosing systems for accurate admixture of amino acids.

Evonik is a strategic partner for pharmaceutical companies. Exclusive synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients and our business with amino acids for pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical polymers are bundled in the Health Care Business Line. Amino acids are used in infusion solutions for intravenous nutrition and the treatment of infections. Pharmaceutical polymers, for instance tablet coatings, are smart drug delivery systems that regulate the exact time and place at which active ingredients are released and thus play a role in successful treatment. Global market access, a broad innovation platform and production that meets the highest quality standards such as cGMP (current good manufacturing practices) provide the basis for us to operate successfully in the pharmaceutical market.

The CyPlus Technologies Business Line is a leading supplier of products, technologies and services for chemical and pharmaceutical intermediates, the extraction of precious metals, and surface treatment of metals.