Evonik to expand its L-Lysine feed amino acid business

Evonik Industries has begun expansion of its North American lysine operation, which will be realized in two steps beginning already in 2011.

The first phase of the expansion at its Blair, Nebraska production facility has begun, with the basic engineering for a second phase expansion already approved by the Evonik Degussa GmbH’s Board of Management. Final production output of the Blair, Nebraska production site by 2013 is expected to nearly double its current output, with the first additional quantities to come on stream already in 2011.

This expansion plan fits into the overall growth strategy of Evonik in the area of feed amino acids, and it complements the company’s recent announcement of a major expansion of its DL-Methionine business to reach 580 kilotons. Because of its continued focus on world-class production technologies through its R&D and Process Technology, Evonik has now achieved a leading L-Lysine fermentation technology with one of the most competitive cost positions in the industry.

According to Dr. Walter Pfefferle, Vice President of the Bioproducts business line of Evonik, “Our company is well positioned to capture profitable growth through its continued commitment to developing only the best technologies and through careful investment into businesses which are founded upon its core competencies. Biotechnology is a core technology of Evonik and fermentative feed additives are at the very heart of this technological competence”.

The Biolys^® L-Lysine product from Evonik is positioned around the world as the most effective lysine source in livestock diets, which offers significant and measurable improvements to feed production costs.

Evonik is the only company in the world to produce and market all four essential amino acids used in advanced animal nutrition: Biolys^® (L-Lysine), DL-Methionine, L-Threonine and L-Tryptophan. Evonik offers these products in combination with state-of-the-art analytical, technical and nutritional services, and therefore is able to make an essential contribution to the cost-efficiency of its customers and to healthy and environmentally friendly animal nutrition.