OREANDA-NEWS. Bayer aims to further grow its Animal Health Business. Until 2021, the company plans to invest around 92 million euros into the further development of the production site in Kiel, where some of the most important products for the global market are being manufactured. The goal is to strengthen particularly the growing business in the companion animal segment.

Especially the rising demand for collars against fleas and ticks requires further investments into new production facilities and sophisticated filling and packaging lines. Another focus lies on expanding the production of pipettes with liquid parasite protection for pets. Other liquid products as well as an optimized production of pills for companion and farm animals will be supported with millions. In addition, Bayer will invest into stepping up the site’s infrastructure.

“Kiel is by far the most important production site for our animal health business,” said Dr. Dirk Ehle, Head of the Bayer unit Animal Health. “Here, we produce around 60 percent of our products, which are sold all over the globe. As a strategic production site for pipettes and flea and tick collars, Kiel substantially contributes to the success of our business unit. We expect significant growth in future, in particular for our collars. In addition, we want to prepare Kiel for the requirements of the future production of our pipeline products. The site will thus be optimally positioned medium and long-term.”

2016, total Animal Health sales came in at around 1.5 billion euros. Other production sites are located in the USA, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 115,200 people and had sales of EUR 46.8 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.7 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015.