As part of a strategic partnership, Bürkert Fluid Control Systems has taken a stake in the Giessen-based start-up Green Elephant Biotech. Together with Bürkert, the start-up aims to make cell cultivation processes in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry more efficient, flexible and sustainable, so that, for example, life-saving therapeutics can be produced more cost-effectively. The partnership gives Bürkert access to the latest trends and developments in the biopharmaceutical industry, one of the strategic core markets of the fluidics specialist from Ingelfingen. “We see great potential in the innovative cell culture systems from Green Elephant Biotech to revolutionize production processes in industry. This is in line with our corporate vision of bringing solutions for a regenerative economy to market,” says Bürkert CEO Georg Stawowy.

Green Elephant Biotech was founded in 2021 by Dr. Joel Eichmann and Felix Wollenhaupt at the Technical University of Central Hessen in Giessen. Compared to conventional cell culture vessels, the innovative and patented CellScrew cell cultivation system provides a significantly increased growth surface for adherent cell cultures in the same volume. In addition, the CellScrew is additively manufactured from polylactide (PLA) using 3D printing.

Founder Felix Wollenhaupt explains: “Classic cell culture vessels are significantly larger, are single-use items, are thrown away after a single use and often incinerated for regulatory reasons. This generates a lot of CO2. On the one hand, our CellScrew is made from less raw material, which means that less waste is generated per se. On the other hand, with PLA we use a biopolymer that is obtained from plants. This reduces the carbon footprint by about 90 percent compared to conventional systems.”

By working with Bürkert as a strong strategic partner, the founders have access to resources for the further development of their company. Joel Eichmann adds: “Together with Bürkert, we want to turn the CellSrew into a fully-fledged bioreactor. To do this, fluids have to be exchanged, gases controlled and processes regulated. Bürkert provides the technical components and expertise to integrate all of this into a single system. Together, we want to develop a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable production platform for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly for personalized medicine.”

The startup's vision is linked to the green transition, which is expressed not least in the metaphor of the green elephant. To support large companies in their green transition, new ways of thinking, courageous company founders and committed family businesses that want to make their contribution to the regenerative economy are needed.

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