German company Sartorius Stedim Biotech invests again in Provence

An ambitious R&D programme for a projected turnover of €2.8 billion in 2025

Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB), originating from the fusion in 2007 of Stedim (a company from Aubagne) and the German group Sartorius, has evolved as world leader in the manufacturing of single-use pouches aimed at large pharmaceutical laboratories. With around 900 employees, Aubagne's second private employer has launched an ambitious €23M R&D project for the 2016-2018 period. The health industry being one of the region's areas of excellence, SSB received strong financial support from the Region and Metropolis (€5M and €2M respectively). This unprecedented territorial partnership allows Sartorius Sterdim Biotech to significantly accelerate its development and to maintain its leadership position.

"Aubagne possesses the know-how"

Given the significance of this challenge, the territorial bodies joined forces, just like Provence Promotion who uses its operational skills to promote the territory, its economy and companies wishing to locate in Provence. Consequently, the territory is welcoming Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s global expertise center for single-use pouches.

"We systematically raise the question of inter-site competition. The Aubagne site possesses the know-how as we already have another R&D center there.  This investment project for innovation was made possible thanks to a team approach by the economic players and institutions. We were sensitive to their moral support and more broadly to the territory's loyalty towards our company," explains Olivier Guitard, general director for Sartorius Southern Europe, also the financial director of a group whose turnover is over a billion Euros and employs 5,100 across the world.

A territory comes together as a team for jobs and innovation

Renaud Muselier, the President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, who was on site to discover Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s latest investments, indicated: “it’s the first time that the Region puts this much money into a company (€5M). This significant project puts the spotlight on our territory and represents a genuine showcase that inscribes itself in our strategy. It’s through excellence and innovation that will be achieve growth and that we will win the battle for employment. Sartorius Stedim Biotech kept its commitment: these 200 jobs are the proof”.

For Gérard Gazay, Aubagne's mayor and also Vice-President of the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, it was essential to offer support to this company, the community’s 2^nd largest employer.

"At €5M, it's the first time that the Region invests so much money in a company. You have respected the requirements in terms of job creation and strategy," adds Renaud Muselier, president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council, who visited the site to discover Sartorius Stedim Biotech's latest investments.

SSB has invested in the creation of a clean room that will be operational in late 2018, thus increasing its production capacity by 30% to accommodate the market’s intrinsic growth and new innovative products. It is also increasing its logistical capabilities with, most notably, the creation of a 12,000 m² logistic platform at the Napollon zone this past January.

Sartorius Stedim Biotech expects an increased growth with a turnover forecast of €2.8B in 2025 and a 30% EBITDA margin.