Custom Manufacture

Abstract

The life science industry, particularly pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies, is increasingly outsourcing the development and manufacture of active ingredients and intermediates for drugs and pesticides to specialised fine chemical companies. The global market for custom manufacture represents ca. USD 12 billion today and is growing. As the number of companies involved in custom manufacture is growing, too, there is also increasing competition. Entry hurdles are high and the key success factor is the ability to manage the 'value-speed-quality' triangle. Future challenges for the providers of custom manufacture are the high asset intensity of multipurpose plants, the increasing regulatory constraints and the purchasing power of the mega life science companies.