DSM Nutritional Products and Lonza are to extend their long-term collaboration at their respective Swiss facilities in Lalden and Visp. As a result, 147 Lonza employees working at Lalden will transfer to DSM in early 2010.

The two companies said that the need to “intensify partnerships in order to be able to innovate, deliver the highest quality, and secure future growth at competitive conditions” are all intrinsic to their established relationship and that this will continue under the new arrangement.

The firms have worked together since 1965, when Lonza simultaneously commissioned a cracker capable of making acetylene and hydrogen, key raw materials for the production of vitamins A and E, and Teranol, a predecessor to DSM Nutritional Products, decided to locate its new production site adjacent to it.

Ever since then, Lonza has been a key supplier of raw materials for vitamins, carotenoids, aroma chemicals and related services to DSM Nutritional Product and the companies have shared infrastructure at the two sites.
Subject to formal acceptance procedures, the 147 Lonza employees will join DSM in January 2010. This is described as little more than a formality, as they were already working for DSM to all intents and purposes and their jobs will not change.