Built with responsibility for the future

Eduard Gerlach GmbH has set its course for the future with its new building. The resulting building not only meets very high traditional quality standards, but also links the company's own history with sustainable action. This results in a building that, in many ways, allows energy-saving operations and production at the highest level. The integration of a 7,000-square-meter warehouse along with modern laboratory equipment and production facilities ensures that products move smoothly through the new facility, from ingredient quality testing to shipping. "In our 150-year history, we have always evolved. With the new building, we are not only securing the long-term quality of our products, but we can also take our responsibility to the people and the environment into account for the future," says Jobst-Peter Gerlach-von Waldthausen, Managing Director.

A company can only remain successful over many decades if it is able to evolve. The new headquarters building represents a major step in sustainable renewal and its permanent commitment to its location. Its sustainability is even evident in the physical footprint. Out of the six hectares of former farmland, the new building requires only about 17,000 square meters, plus traffic space. Over 30,000 square meters remain undeveloped and are primarily used as a lavender field for the specially settled bees to pollinate. Part of the roof is also greened. Its energy-optimized construction starts with insulation. The building's exterior walls were insulated with 140 millimeter thick environmentally friendly mineral wool. It is as thick as 200 millimeters for the ceilings. The windows also reduce energy consumption. They have the best possible degree of insulation at 0.6 Uw (measure of thermal transmittance). The installed gas motor heat pumps heat the building on cold days and cool it on hot days.

Effective, high quality cosmetics

Another part of resource conservation lies in the company's water reclamation plant. The laboratory, production and office rooms, and the large warehouse are illuminated with economical LED lamps. But it's not only about energy- saving construction. State-of-the-art equipment and technologies raise the company's (already very high) traditional quality standards to a new level. "For years, we have been producing cosmetics with standards comparable to those in pharmaceutical production. As a manufacturer and full-range supplier for our traditional specialized trade, it was especially important for us to create the ideal conditions for the future regulatory requirements that we expect to see in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics," says Jobst-Peter Gerlach-von Waldthausen, who handed over the company to his son after more than 40 years.

Top quality production

To this end, we created this space to allow for the production of products under conditions that are otherwise only possible in sensitive fields at these standards, such as drug manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the slight positive pressure prevents entry of possible pollutants from outside. The permanent air exchange and a filter system also support air purity. "Employees wear personal protective equipment to prevent contamination," says Gerlach-von Waldthausen. The raw materials used in production are tested for their active substances in the new laboratory using state-of-the-art equipment, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography and are only released for product manufacturing after passing the test.

Responsibility to the people

"We see quality awareness as part of our responsibility to our customers, who can continue to rely on the premium quality of our products in the future," Gerlach-von Waldthausen summarizes. The family-owned company also takes responsibility for its employees. "Our workplaces are ergonomically optimized for a less stressful working day. Investment in the future ensures the continuation of our successful company with long-lived traditions. We owe this to our employees, especially since they are the ones who create our products."

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