About us
Vetter Success Story
It all started with a pharmacy in Ravensburg, over 70 years ago. See the events, milestones and highlights that helped shape our history.
2022
Vetter's first sustainability report published
For years, we have been regulating and intensifying our extensive sustainability efforts with our EHS program (environment, health and safety). In 2021, we were able to achieve CO2 neutrality of all sites ‒ one of many achievements. Our sustainability report, which was first published in 2022, is comprised of 82 pages and offers a detailed overview of all actions and a strategic perspective on Vetter's ecological, economic and social goals that should be reached by 2029.
2021
New site in Rankweil put into operation
After one and a half years of renovation, Vetter obtained the operating license for its new clinical production facility Vetter Development Service Rankweil in Austria's Vorarlberg region at the end of the year. The production site has been supporting international customers ever since during the important phase of process development and clinical filling of innovative APIs.
2020
Long-term investment strategy
Despite an uncertain global outlook, we sustained our growth through a keen focus on balancing both stability and development. We continued our investment in both regional and international capacity (development and commercial), and opened a new corporate headquarters building in Germany.
2019
In focus: Sustainable energy supply
Vetter reaches another important sustainability milestone: Since mid-2019, all our German sites have been exclusively powered by CO2-neutral electricity from verified renewable energy sources. This achievement highlights our commitment to protecting our climate and environment, and reflects an important element of our responsible corporate governance.
2018
Winner: Facility of the Year Award
Our Center for Visual Inspection and Logistics wins the renowned Facility the the Year Award (FOYA), in the category “Facility of the Future.” The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is impressed by the intelligent combination of location design, state-of-the-art technology, and innovative processes.
2017
New branch office opens in South Korea
With the establishment of aregional office in South Korea, Vetter underscores its commitment to the Asia Pacific market. The new office footprint better positions us to both support existing business in South Korea and help new local and global customers meet stringent development, manufacturing, and packaging requirements of their injectable drugs.
2016
New multi-functional Development Service and IT building
Expansion of our Ravensbug Schuetzenstrasse building helps us meet growing customer demand for drug development support, as well as our own need for enhanced IT systems.
2015
New Vetter presence in Tokyo, Japan
A new Vetter business entity in Tokyo underscores Japan’s importance to our business. As the second largest pharmaceutical market, Japan is home to a number of leading global companies with promising injectable products in their pipelines. Our new regional office supports customer relations and the development of new business within Japan.
2014
New regional office in Singapore
Vetter opens its first Asia-Pacific office to boost our regional presence and tap Asia’s rapidly growing healthcare market. The new office supports both customer relations and the development of new business.
2013
First product transfer from Skokie to Ravensburg
This year marks the first of many clinical-to-commercial product transfers from the US to Germany, providing further proof of our versatile single-source manufacturing services.
2012
New site in Erlen commissioned
Our new center for visual inspection and logistics goes into operation, with our Erlen site offering even higher quality standards and safer, more efficient supply chain processes. In many ways, the site’s optimized operations are an investment in the future: they use a variety of renewable power sources, including energy from both photovoltaic cells and biogas.
2011
First US production site in Skokie, USA
Vetter Development Service expands its operations and Vetter’s early clinical development services, with a site located at the Illinois Science Technology Park outside Chicago. Now, Vetter can provide direct regional support to North American customers who need early-phase, cGMP-compliant aseptic filling of vials, syringes, and cartridges.
2010
Sales office moves to Skokie, USA
Our North American sales office relocates from Yardley, Pennsylvania, to a community outside Chicago, Illinois. Our subsidiary settles in the suburb of Skokie, future home of our first US production site: a new facility dedicated to early-phase clinical development. Short commutes and a faster, more direct information exchange strengthens our partnership with regional customers.
2009
Vetter continues to grow
On April 1, Vetter combines its sales and marketing activities under the subsidiary Vetter Pharma International GmbH, strengthening Vetter Pharma-Fertigung’s position in the international marketplace. In the fall, Vetter opens its Ravensburg Vetter South site, including our new secondary packaging facility, VSP.
2000
Full-service evolution
Vetter becomes a full-service provider for its international customers. This new direction brings investment in new facilities, like Ravensburg Vetter South (RVS), as well as expansion of existing sites and implementation of new operational technology and quality assurance systems.
1990
Innovation and automation
This year marks the launch of the Vetter Lyo-Ject® dual-chamber prefilled syringe. Two years later, Vetter uses robots in the aseptic production process for the first time ever, setting a new quality standard for parenteral product manufacturing. In 1996, production of the Vetter Lyo-Ject® dual chamber syringe is fully automated at our manufacturing facility in Langenargen.
1984
The prefilled syringe
Vetter Pharma-Turm Inc. is founded in New Jersey, USA, demonstrating Vetter’s growing international focus. In 1984, the prototype for the dual-chamber Vetter Lyo-Ject® syringe is presented worldwide.
1970
Moving towards aseptic production
Our company begins sealing in reduced-particle manufacturing areas. Helmut Vetter introduces the concept of the prefilled syringe, which becomes the focus of the manufacturing portfolio in the late 70s.
1965
Innovative packaging methods
With pharmaceutical packaging quality becoming increasingly important, Helmut Vetter expands contract blister packaging and drug manufacturing.
1958
Pharmacy entrepreneur
Helmut Vetter develops the Ullus® stomach medicine, which goes on to be sold in the USA. In 1958, he purchases his own pharmacy on Marienplatz in Ravensburg.
1950
Foundation
Helmut Vetter leases the Marien-Apotheke (pharmacy) in Ravensburg, which becomes the foundation of our company. There, he develops the Ullus® stomach medicine, which is exported as far as the USA.
1945
Licensed as a pharmacist
Honorary Senator and pharmacist Helmut Vetter (1920-1999) founds the “Chemisch-Pharmazeutische Laboratorium Ravensburg GmbH,” which includes a laboratory, a school for lab technicians, and a drug production facility.