The moment has arrived: at a meeting with the Saarland state government on 29 January, Vetter Pharma – one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical service providers – presented their plans for a new, state-of-the-art medicine manufacturing facility on the former Ford site in Saarlouis. In doing so, this family company (which has its head office in Ravensburg) is emphasising its long-term growth strategy whilst also reinforcing its commitment to Germany as a hub of business, with a particular focus on Saarland.
Nearly half a billion euros of investment is planned for the first phase of construction for the production site, representing one of Vetter’s largest individual investments in the company’s history.
Vetter will be seeking to serve European markets (among others) from their new site in Saarland. The company is making targeted investment in its existing sites in Germany, Austria and the USA in order to meet growing demand and ever-increasing market requirements. This new site in Saarlouis will see Vetter once again significantly increasing their production capacity.
Construction work is planned to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The first phase of construction on the former Ford site will cover around 400,000 m2. The plot is on the ‘winter car park’ directly opposite the company DSD. During the final stage of the expansion, the company plans to create up to 2,000 new jobs. If everything stays on schedule, production at the new site should begin in 2030/2031.
What the stakeholders have to say:
‘By building our new manufacturing facility in Saarlouis, we are setting a vital milestone in our pursuit of sustainable growth. Long-term success requires the right balance between stability and targeted expansion’, emphasised Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board and a member of the owner family. ‘We have huge confidence in Saarland and are proud to be boosting Germany as a hub of business through our investment. We are also confirming our long-term commitment as a family company on the global pharmaceutical market – including our ongoing investment in the USA.’
The Saarland state government also welcomed this decision. ‘We are delighted that Vetter have opted to build their new production site in Saarlouis. This sends a strong signal for the future of Saarland and marks a success in our efforts to attract new businesses’, Saarland’s Minister-President Anke Rehlinger said. Minister of Economic Affairs Jürgen Barke added: ‘The planned investment will diversify our economy and create new jobs in a market with future prospects. This will provide a boost to structural change in Saarland and help ensure sustainable development for our industrial and innovation landscape.’
Wanted – and found in Saarland
The ‘Germany´s Saarland’ website www.portal.germanys.saarland offers an overview of suitable sites, just a click away: a convenient way for investors to find options that meet their particular criteria. Every site listed offers a profile as well an aerial photograph, map, and contact details for gwSaar, the Saarland Economic Promotion Corporation.
This is how the pharmaceutical service provider Vetter found the perfect site for their project in Saarland. The global family company made its decision after extensive discussions and negotiations with the gwSaar team.
And there’s more: Saarland also won out against competing sites in in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Austria and Switzerland. This decision was also based on early strategic planning: Vetter acquired the approximately 40-hectare industrial site in Saarlouis back in late 2024. The European Commission approved state aid of up to 47 million euros for this extensive construction project. Staff recruitment will begin as soon as the structural conditions are in place – vacancies will be advertised on the Vetter website.
About Vetter
Vetter is a leading contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) which has its headquarters in Ravensburg and production sites in Germany, Austria and the USA. As a global player, this independent pharmaceutical service provider offers client proximity through its own sales offices in the Asian-Pacific markets of Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies all over the world value its decades of experience, high quality, modern technologies, and the reliability and commitment of its more than 7,700 employees. Vetter works closely with its customers to supply life-enhancing drugs to patients all over the world. The pharmaceutical service provider supports all areas from process development, to clinical and commercial bottling, to a wide range of assembly and packaging options for vials, syringes and cartridges. The topic of sustainability is a top priority for Vetter, which is why the family company takes a socially and ethically responsible approach as a corporate citizen. www.vetter-pharma.com
