Company Foundation

Lactosan GmbH was founded in 1989 in the city Kapfenberg by pioneers of the agricultural biotechnology. The company idea was the production of lactic acid bacteria, which were offered as probiotics and starter cultures for silages, agricultural companies and producers of animal feed. The initial product range comprised only two articles.

Biotechnology amid Heavy Industry

Lactosan was the first company in the newly constructed industrial park in Kapfenberg. The company's premises were chosen in the middle of a region, which back then exclusively domiciled the heavy industry. The step of founding a biotechnology company in such an infrastructure was very unusual at this time.

Takeover by Schaumann

The decisive year in the company history was 1994. Schaumann realised a great potential in the production of lactic acid bacteria for silages and probiotics in animal feed and took over the company Lactosan. Target-oriented investments and consequent developments resulted in successful products within a short time.

First Expansion of the Company Plant

Second Expansion - Integration of the Fluidised Bed Drying

Soon significant expansions and enlargements followed to meet the increasing demand for silage additives and probiotics. With the expansion of the newly installed fluidised bed drying a new drying technology was integrated into the company besides freeze-drying.

Third Expansion of the Company Plant

Despite the investments 1998/1999 and 2002/2003 it was clear that with the constantly growing range of products and customers and the continuous inclusion of production processes, such as can and bag filling, the capacity limits will be soon reached again. Furthermore, it is Lactosan's philosophy to prepare in time for the continuously increasing quality standards. Also the implementation of safety requirements, in particular concerning the ATEX explosion protection guideline valid since June 2006, needed to be considered for powder treatment. With the expansion started in August 2005 and finished in spring 2007 it thus has been invested in another future development.

Lactosan Biotech

The until now largest investment in the company's history was a milestone for Lactosan, as not only the capacity for the existing products was increased, but also the way for new business fields was paved. The new fermentation plant in an own building enables the production of biocatalytic enzymes for industrial biotechnology in a large scale. The modern research and development laboratories with the technical centre, which have been constructed in the course of the expansion, clearly show the innovative spirit of the company as well.

Lactosan Pharma

Lactosan Pharma is the new and third business field in the company. A fourth expansion stage, which was started in 2009 and completed in October 2011, enables Lactosan with an own pharmaceutical line to offer customers the production of lactic acid bacteria as APIs under GMP conditions. In the course of this expansion stage an own freeze-drying line was included in the cleanroom of the Biotech department besides the construction of the GMP production plant. Furthermore an expansion of the freeze-drying capacity in the Microbial Additives department and the installation of a new pouch filling plant for small quantities including labelling were realised.

Fifth Expansion for Offices and Laboratories

Continuously increased capacities and expanded fields of business resulted in a greater demand for personnel and laboratories. With the fifth expansion sufficient office and laboratory space was created, to assure the quality and to be one step ahead in R&D.

More than 600 Products

The product range of Lactosan was increased from initially two products in 1989 to about 600 products today. The product portfolio includes besides special products on the basis of living lactic acid bacteria for the ensilage of fresh plant material as animal feed or energy plants for biogas production also probiotics for livestock and human application as well as starter cultures for food industry. Contract manufacturing of more than 40 different enzymes for food or pharmaceutical industries also belongs to the offered services. The products are globally sold by distribution companies to end customers in currently more than 50 companies.