Syntegon and Lyocontract: joint growth

Syntegon will equip the new LYOCONTRACT plant with a complete line for filling and freeze-drying vials.

Dr. Matthias Wagner (3rd from left), Managing Director of Syntegon Telstar, and Dr. Tino Galgon (4th from left), Managing Director of LYOCONTRACT, at the groundbreaking ceremony together with representatives of GESA Engineering Company for Technical Overall Planning.

– Groundbreaking Ceremony for a €50 Million Investment at LYOCONTRACT in Ilsenburg
– Complete Vial Line for Freeze-Dried Pharmaceuticals from Syntegon
– Close Partnership and Seamless Processes as Keys to Joint Success

The demand for freeze-dried parenterals in vials is steadily increasing. This also applies to the contract manufacturer LYOCONTRACT, which has been producing in Ilsenburg in the Harz since 2012. On March 11, 2026, the company laid the foundation stone for one of the largest investments in its history with a ceremonial groundbreaking: approximately €50 million are allocated for expanding production. The partner Syntegon was present, which will equip the new plant with a complete line for filling and freeze-drying.

Strategic Partnership for Further Growth

"With the groundbreaking, we are paving the way for further growth," said Dr. Tino Galgon, Managing Director of LYOCONTRACT. "Our goal is to establish LYOCONTRACT as a leading contract manufacturer for sterile freeze-dried products at the highest quality level." To achieve this, the plant will be gradually equipped with new equipment. The first line is already planned, with delivery scheduled for summer 2027. "For such an ambitious project, it is essential to have the right partners by our side. With Syntegon, we receive the complete line and all project management from a single source," Galgon explained.

Seamless Solutions from a Single Source

"Since the portfolio integration of Syntegon and Telstar in October 2024, we have significantly expanded our offerings and can provide our customers with comprehensive lines, reduced interfaces, and a single point of contact throughout the entire lifecycle of the line," said Dr. Matthias Wagner, Managing Director of Syntegon Telstar, on the occasion of the groundbreaking. "We are very proud that LYOCONTRACT trusts us, and we look forward to this partnership."

Focus on Annex 1 Compliance and Flexibility

The new line will cover the entire process: in addition to the filling and sealing system with integrated isolator, it includes a loading and unloading system as well as a freeze dryer. Several requirements influenced the decision. "We need a line that meets the regulatory requirements of EU GMP Annex 1 from the start, offers the necessary flexibility regarding products and container sizes, and ensures high performance with minimal downtime," Galgon explained.

For Syntegon, this is the first vial project in Germany with integrated freeze dryers, making it an important milestone for further growth. "The feedback on the integration of Telstar has been very positive. Several new customer projects worldwide have already demonstrated why having a single partner makes a decisive difference, both in terms of collaboration and technological implementation," Wagner said. "It is all the more gratifying to be able to demonstrate these competencies together with LYOCONTRACT now."