BRAIN Group expands production capacities as demand increases

• BRAIN subsidiary WeissBioTech sets up new production facility in Büttelborn, near Darmstadt, Germany
• BRAIN subsidiary Biocatalysts expands and optimizes its production capacities
• Paving the way for future growth

Zwingenberg, Germany Ascheberg, Germany and Cardiff, UK
17 December 2019

The BRAIN Group announces an expansion of its production capacities. The installation of new production facilities in both Büttelborn, near Darmstadt, Germany, by WeissBioTech GmbH (WBT) and in Cardiff, Wales, by Biocatalysts Ltd. lays the foundation for future growth.

The companies of the BRAIN Group form a closely knit network in the fields of R&D and production or as suppliers in specific markets. Drawing on the particular competencies of its subsidiaries, BRAIN brings its own innovative research results to market launch and commercializes existing products. By expanding its production capacities, BRAIN reinforces the strategic focus on its product business.

WeissBioTech sets up new production facility in Büttelborn

WeissBioTech GmbH (WBT) has been a part of BRAIN Group since 2014 and is a leading supplier in the field of enzymes, yeast starter cultures, natural preservation systems, and other fermentative products for the food industry and other market segments.

In order to open up capacities for further growth and to increase logistics efficiency, WBT has set up a new production facility at Büttelborn. The Büttelborn labs, where components such as enzymes, yeasts, and process adjuvants for the production of fruit and vegetable juices, wine, beer, and bioethanol are developed and manufactured, are specifically geared towards application-oriented work. The labs benefit from the local proximity to BRAIN AG and other key partners because, because for the most part the group's research and development activities still take place at BRAIN AG's Zwingenberg head office. The new production facility was designed in accordance with the latest ISO and food safety standards such as ISO 22000 and the FSSC system. Its size of 4,500 sq. m. means a significant expansion of WBT's storage, production and research facilities.

The new facility was opened on December 11th, 2019 and is intended to be brought into service in early 2020. WeissBioTech will retain its head office and administrative headquarters in Ascheberg near Münster, Germany. However, the company will give up its plant in Chanteloup-en-Brie near Paris, France.

Matthias Enste, who assumed the position of Managing Director at WeissBioTech on November 1st, 2019, says: "The new building constitutes our basis for further growth. It allows us to guarantee a more efficient execution of our logistics processes since we now have our own warehouse space. The local proximity to BRAIN AG will make our cooperation even more efficacious."

Biocatalysts expands and optimizes its production capacities

Biocatalysts Ltd., a member of the BRAIN Group since 2018, is one of Europe's leading suppliers of specialty enzymes. The company's portfolio includes the development of enzymes and their small- and large-scale production, ranging from kilograms to tons, as well as global distribution operations for various industries such as the food and fine chemicals sectors.

In 2019, the company made significant progress on the construction of a new production plant in Cardiff. The facility will contain leading edge technology delivering LEAN manufacturing methodology. This sixteen fold increase in Biocatalysts fermentation capacity will give seamless scale up capability from bench top to full commercial manufacturing. The facility will safeguard customer supply and enable delivery of the company growth strategy. Commissioning, site hand-over, celebratory opening events and ultimately routine manufacturing are scheduled for the near future.

Rod Sears-Black, Managing Director of Biocatalysts, says: "The new facility is key to delivery of our corporate vision of being the worlds leading speciality enzyme company and confirms Biocatalyst's position as the complete supplier to the biotech industry."

Ludger Roedder, Chief Business Officer at BRAIN, adds: "We draw on the specific competencies of our subsidiaries to bring our own innovative research results to market launch and to commercialize existing products. The expansion of our production capacities is a logical step on the path to commercializing our product base."

More Information

The BRAIN Group: https://www.brain-biotech.com/brain-group

Biocatalysts Plant Extension - Progress Update, June 27th, 2019: http://www.biocatalysts.com/2019/06/biocatalysts-plant-extension/

Download the photos at:
https://www.brain-biotech.com/press

About BRAIN

B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research and Information Network AG (BRAIN AG; ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394) is one of Europe's leading technology companies in the field of industrial biotechnology, the core discipline of Bioeconomy. As such, BRAIN identifies previously untapped, efficient enzymes, microbial producer organisms or natural substances from complex biological systems that can be put to industrial use. The innovative solutions and products developed by help of this "Toolbox of Nature" are successfully applied in the chemistry, the cosmetics and the food industries. BRAIN's business model is based on two pillars. The BioScience segment comprises mainly of the research and development business with industrial partners (the "Tailor-Made Solutions" cooperation business), and the company's own research and development. The BioIndustrial segment consists mainly of the industrially scalable products business. Further information is available at www.brain-biotech.com.

About WeissBioTech
WeissBioTech GmbH, headquartered in Ascheberg near Münster, Germany, is a leading supplier in the field of enzymes, yeast starter cultures, natural preservation systems and other fermentative products for the food industry and other market sectors. It supplies both large multinationals and medium-sized manufacturers of fruit juices, beer and wine. The customer base also includes industries that process starch and bioethanol. WeissBioTech was founded in 2002 and has been a member of the BRAIN Group since 2014.
www.weissbiotech.com.

About Biocatalysts
Biocatalysts Ltd. is one of Europe's leading companies in specialty enzyme production. Their strategy is to be able to satisfy any customer's enzyme requirement either through standard, customized or novel enzyme products. Their focus is on using new technology to drive down the cost of novel enzyme production to make it more widely available across multiple sectors. The development of their own metagenomic library, MetXtra gives access to over 300 million unique sequences offering customers a huge choice of potential enzymatic solutions. Biocatalysts enjoys strategic relationships with many of the world's top blue-chip companies. More information can be found at www.biocatalysts.com.

BRAIN
Biotechnology Research
And Information Network AG
Darmstädter Str. 34-36
64673 Zwingenberg
Germany
www.brain-biotech.com

+49 (0) 6251 9331 0
E-Mail IR: [email protected]
E-Mail Media:
[email protected]


Biocatalysts Limited
Unit 1, Cefn Coed,
Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff
CF15 7QQ
Wales, UK
+44 (0) 1443 843712
[email protected]
www.biocatalysts.com


WeissBioTech GmbH
An der Hansalinie 48-50
59387 Ascheberg
Germany
+49 (0) 2593 919 386
[email protected]
www.weissbiotech.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations, and assumptions of the management of BRAIN AG and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. There are numerous factors which could influence the future performance by and future developments at BRAIN AG and the BRAIN group of companies. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, and other factors. BRAIN AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.