Beiersdorf's new plant in Leipzig-Seehausen, Germany, started operation in May, with "made in Leipzig" cosmetic products being manufactured.
Deodorants, hair sprays and shaving foams sold under brand names NIVEA, 8x4 and Hidrofugal are now being produced there for the European market.
The Hamburg-headquartered firm has invested almost €300 million into the state-of-the art, sustainable production centre.
Together with the logistics hub being erected on a neighbouring property, the plant represents Beiersdorf’s largest global investment in a single location.
“This project is exceptional for Beiersdorf in every way,” said Harald Emberger, a member of the company’s executive committee and the corporate senior vice president of supply chain. “With our production centre in Leipzig we are creating capacities for long-term and sustainable growth of our brands in Europe and setting standards in terms of the production of cosmetic products.
"By using cutting-edge production technology that includes fully automated and digitalised processes, we have nearly doubled our productivity level and are producing in the most sustainable way ever.”
New plant focuses on innovation capability
During the construction phase of the plant, the focus was placed on innovation capability, a modular, flexible design and the use of state-of-the-art technologies, including automated intralogistics systems and robotics to perform filling and packing jobs.
Virtual reality is also being used to train employees.
This focus will enable the production centre to react with agility to new technologies, consumer needs and market developments in the future, according to Beiersdorf.
Tobias Rhensius, the project director who oversaw the plant’s construction, said he was pleased about the successful start of operations in Leipzig.
“The plant meets the highest technological standards and provides a tremendous amount of flexibility,” he said. “A high degree of automation facilitates the perfect interplay of production steps and a high level of efficiency and productivity – from the delivery of raw materials to the finished product.”
Plant director Stephan Roelen added: “While the facility was being built, we put together a highly qualified and motivated team that is now putting the plant into operation.
"The atmosphere is one of pride in the exceptional project, team spirit and the conviction that efforts being made in the current ramp-up phase will lead to success.”
Four production lines will go into operation this year, and a fifth one will be started by 2024. Up to 450 million cosmetic products are then estimated to be produced, filled and packed each year.
Highest environmental standards
The plant will be virtually carbon neutral because it uses renewable energies and burns biogas for heating purposes. Such valuable resources as heat, wastewater and ethanol will be recovered and treated. As part of its commitment to sustainability, Beiersdorf said it is working to have the building receive gold certification based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an internationally recognised seal for sustainable construction.
The celebratory opening of the facility is set for the late summer of 2023 following its successful commissioning.
New Beiersdorf plant commences “made in Leipzig” cosmetic production
