With courage and vision to the goal

Location expansion: Joy at Wellmann Pharma-Engineering: After 20 years of growth, the company is expanding its premises in Kamen by an additional floor. (Source: Wellmann Anlagentechnik GmbH)

Wellmann CIP System: For maximum process safety in the pharmaceutical industry: One of the highly efficient CIP systems from Wellmann Pharma-Engineering. (Source: Wellmann Anlagentechnik GmbH)

– Bold start in the pharmaceutical industry 20 years ago
– Division now generates 25 percent of total revenue
– Spatial expansion due to growing demand

What began two decades ago as a bold step into a new market segment has become an indispensable part of Wellmann Anlagenbau GmbH: The pharmaceutical division of the plant manufacturer from Halle (Westphalia) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Wellmann Pharma-Engineering's innovative solutions are in demand like never before. Therefore, the plant manufacturer is expanding its premises.

The journey of Wellmann Pharma-Engineering started 20 years ago with Gerhard Wellmann's courageous decision to establish a division for the pharmaceutical industry. "Back then, the pharmaceutical industry was uncharted territory for us," recalls Managing Director Wellmann. "But with a dedicated team and our established processes focused on quality and efficiency, we quickly gained ground."

Beginning of a success story

At that time, Wellmann Anlagenbau was already successful in the food and beverage technology sectors. The pharmaceutical industry promised new, exciting challenges. With the closure of the Glatt GmbH branch in Unna in 2004, Wellmann saw the opportunity to integrate the experienced engineering team from the former Glatt branch. "It was a risky move, but I saw the potential. We had the trust of an excellent team and existing relationships with major pharmaceutical companies," explains Wellmann.

With a small office, four desks, and a clear vision, the Wellmann Pharma-Engineering team began its journey. Gerhard Wellmann still vividly remembers the transition of the engineering team from Glatt GmbH to Wellmann Pharma-Engineering: "The workgroup brought not only expertise but also initial orders. The transition was a great opportunity to apply our experience strategically and build something sustainable together." This laid the foundation for the rapid success of the newly founded division. In its first year, the young unit was able to stand on its own — an unprecedented achievement that laid the groundwork for today's company. Today, Wellmann Pharma-Engineering contributes around 25 percent to the company's total revenue.

On the way to the future

After two decades of continuous growth and increasing project complexity, Wellmann Pharma-Engineering is now expanding its premises in Kamen by one floor. "This creates the foundation to better harness our high performance capacity and to meet future requirements even more precisely, also internationally," explains Stefan Eickel, who has been leading the pharma division since 2017. According to Eickel, the demand for resource-efficient solutions and precise engineering services is high. The company offers everything from planning to execution to maintenance of systems for sterile media, inoculation systems, and automation solutions. This includes the development and integration of systems that ensure maximum efficiency, precision, and compliance in pharmaceutical production. Additionally, Wellmann ensures long-term reliable operation of all systems through its maintenance service, minimizing downtime and always complying with legal regulations.

"Despite challenges such as rising personnel costs and increasingly complex qualification requirements, we are optimistic. Our focus on precision and tailored solutions has led us to success over the past 20 years as well. We look forward to a positive future," summarizes Eickel.