Bayer invests EUR 110 million in multi-purpose facility for crop protection products
Manufacturing and process development under one roof
Dormagen - Bayer has invested EUR 110 million in a new manufacturing facility for crop protection products at its Dormagen site. The new multi-purpose facility, which came on stream on June 26, 2002, will be used to manufacture newly developed crop protection products and will serve as an international crop science process development center. "Innovative products and flexible, modern production facilities are essential for success in the highly competitive crop protection market," Bayer AG Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning explained at the official inauguration ceremony. "Our goal is to continue to outpace market growth and thus reinforce our leading edge." State Secretary Georg Wilhelm Adamowitsch, who heads the Chancellery in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, started up the plant by pressing a symbolic button together with Wenning and Bayer CropScience Management Board Chairman Dr. Jochen Wulff, Dormagen Mayor Reinhard Hauschild and Site Manager Walter Schulz.
"This investment is not simply a commitment to crop science; it also represents a commitment to Germany and especially to North Rhine-Westphalia," said Wenning. Bayer has earmarked more than EUR 10 billion for capital expenditures, modernization and R&D in Germany alone through 2005, with some 85 percent of this to be spent in the state of North Rhine- Westphalia. "At Bayer, we have faith in Germany's future as a location for industry," said Bayer's CEO. Dormagen is one of the Group's most important agchem sites worldwide, employing specialist staff trained to the highest standards. In 2001 Bayer invested EUR 214 million in new production plants, modernization and capacity expansion at this site alone.
Nevertheless, Wenning sees an urgent need for action by politicians to improve business conditions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in the face of international competition. He called for a regulatory framework that encourages the development of modern key technologies, a substantial reduction in non-wage personnel costs and taxes, and harmonization of environmental legislation. Wenning also warned of possible further burdens on the chemical industry, especially given the European Union's plans to tighten up chemicals legislation. He warned that this would trigger an avalanche of costs and put European companies at a further disadvantage compared with American and Asian competitors.
Bayer receives innovation award for crop protection product
Adamowitsch praised the new facility as "an exemplary investment for the site, the town of Dormagen, the district of Neuss and the whole state of North Rhine-Westphalia." As well as safeguarding 180 jobs, the new facility reinforces and expands North Rhine-Westphalia's role as a major center for the chemical industry. "I know that with this flexible manufacturing facility, the new Bayer CropScience is extremely well equipped for the future," Adamowitsch added.
Referring to the European Union's White Paper on Chemicals Policy, he said he welcomed the fact that the German government, the German Chemical Industry Association and the chemical workers' union had jointly prepared a detailed list of proposed improvements to the White Paper that had the state government's full support.
During the ceremony the State Secretary also presented the R.I.O. Innovation Prize for special achievements in the field of sustainable environmental protection. The prize, which is awarded by the Aachen-based Kathy Beys Foundation, was accepted by Dr. Jochen Wulff, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience. The company was honored in this way for developing an innovative alternative to conventional crop protection for fruit crops. Bayer CropScience will be donating the EUR 15,000 prize money for environmental projects at schools in Leverkusen.
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