Lonza is a life sciences driven chemical company. It claims to be the leading supplier of active chemical ingredients, intermediates and biotechnology solutions to the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Lonza is headquartered in Switzerland, with sales of SF2.9bn in 2008 and around 8,462 people worldwide.
It also offers a broad catalogue of organic intermediates for a wide range of applications such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, vitamins, food and foodstuff, dyes and pigments, adhesives and fragrances. Furthermore, the group manufactures specialty biocides and oleochemicals, and develops and produces specific polymer intermediates, unsaturated polyester-resins, compounds and composites.
History
Lonza was formed when the chemical activities were demerged from parent company Algroup, in October 1999. In the past century, Lonza has developed from a carbide and fertiliser plant into a specialised, globally operating chemical and biotechnology company.
Company movements
In October 2009, Lonza agreed to acquire a stake in Cilian. For more on this please see Swiss Lonza to acquire stake in German firm Cilian on ICIS news.
Also in October 2009, Lonza withdraw its previously announced non-binding proposal to acquire all of the outstanding restricted voting shares of Patheon.
The deal was first announced in August 2009. Please see Lonza drops takeover offer for Canada’s Patheon on ICIS news.
In August 2009, Roche said that it plans to exercise an option to buy a biopharmaceutical facility in Singapore from Lonza for $290m (€203m) plus milestone payments of $70m. For more on this please see Roche buys Lonza biopharmaceutical facility in Singapore on ICIS news.
In July 2009, Lonza combined its exclusive synthesis and biopharmaceutical business sectors into one single division, named Lonza custom manufacturing. For more on this story please see Lonza merges biopharma and exclusive synthesis businesses .
Lonza Custom Manufacturing
Exclusive Synthesis and Biotechnology
Three businesses come under Lonza's Exclusive Synthesis & Biotechnology division. The current sectors Exclusive Synthesis (chemical), Biologics (mammalian) and Biotec (microbial) have been combined into a single Custom Manufacturing business.
Production sites are located in the Czech Republic, Germany, UK, Switzerland, and the US, with R&D operations in Germany, UK, Switzerland and the US.
Exclusive Synthesis
Exclusive Synthesis division is based on the outsourcing trend in the life sciences industry. It manufactures intermediates and active ingredients with applications in pharmaceuticals, crop protection and animal health products. Lonza claims to be the world leader in exclusive custom manufacturing.
Biotec
This division performs exclusive microbial fermentations and bioconversions, as well as development and manufacturing of intermediates and active substances. It is among the leading producers supplying customers in the life science industry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The division also produces l-carnitine for sports nutrition, food, pharmaceuticals and feedstuffs, and claims the number one market position worldwide for this product.
Biologics
This business develops and manufactures therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. It also undertakes exclusive mammalian cell culture and fermentations. It claims to be the leader in its field, the biologics business supplies customers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Organic Fine and Performance Chemicals
Organic Fine & Performance Chemicals has incorporated production sites in China, Switzerland and the US. R&D operations are based in Switzerland and the US.
Organic Fine Chemicals
This division builds on its strength in organic synthesis, backward integration and materials management in offering a range of organic intermediates. Products areas include basic chemicals, diketene derivatives, engineering polymers, hydrocyanic acid derivatives and, nicotinates and pyridine derivatives. It specialises in the following products:
(1) Niacin (amide) for food and feedstuffs and pharmaceutical applications.
(2) Diketene derivatives for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and colorants.
(3) Hydrocyanic acid derivatives with applications including vitamins, optical brighteners, agrochemicals and adhesives.
(4) Engineering polymers for electronics, aerospace industry and coatings applications.
(5) Meta-Metaldehyde for slug and snail control.
Performance Chemicals
This division produces microbiologically active substances that find uses in household, industrial and institutional disinfectants, preservatives, and in biocides for water treatment, pulp and paper industry and wood protection applications.
Its other business is in oleochemicals for food ingredients, personal care products, and processing aids and lubricants used in the polymer and textile industries.
Polymer Intermediates
Polymer Intermediates develops, produces and markets specific intermediates for chemical manufacturing, such as, oxidation catalysts, dibasic acids, anhydrides and resins.
Furthermore LOFO High Tech belongs to Lonza. It is a major developer and producer of solvent cast films for special technically demanding applications like polariser base films for LCD and membranes for loudspeakers or laminating films for print fishing. LOFO produces these films from cellulose triacetate, polycarbonate, and other high performance polymers.