Eckelmann Group is redefining pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing with fully integrated automation and digitalization solutions that span from field-level controls to ERP integration. With more than three decades of experience and a growing international presence, the company delivers tailored, compliant, and scalable systems for both lab-scale and full-scale production. The Eckelmann FactoryWare® platform, in combination with FactoryWare Analytics, empowers biomanufacturers to streamline operations, enhance traceability, and embrace Industry 4.0.
In today’s highly regulated and rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical landscape, the demand for flexible, reliable, and scalable automation solutions has never been greater. Drug developers and manufacturers alike are seeking partners that not only understand the complexity of pharmaceutical production but can also deliver future-proof digital systems to help them remain agile, compliant, and competitive. Enter the Eckelmann Group, a company with a legacy in automation engineering and a growing influence across the biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.
With headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, and a dedicated North American operation based in Houston, Texas, the Eckelmann Group brings together over 200 experts — engineers, computer scientists, and natural scientists — to tackle some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. The company’s end-to-end automation and control solutions empower pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients to optimize production processes, enhance quality assurance, and accelerate their time to market. From laboratory-scale systems to full industrial plants, Eckelmann designs and delivers systems tailored to each client’s specific needs, meeting the most stringent regulatory requirements.
A Legacy of Innovation in Automation
Guided by the principle “Engineering is our Nature,” Eckelmann has been serving industrial sectors for decades, bringing custom automation solutions to complex environments. The company entered the pharmaceutical space in 1988, began working with drug manufacturers on specialized control systems that could handle the growing need for process repeatability and compliance.
Since then, Eckelmann has completed more than 100 projects across the pharmaceutical industry, establishing a solid reputation for reliability, precision, and partnership. In 2013, the company formally expanded into the biotechnology sector, aligning itself with the surging wave of innovation in biologics and advanced therapeutics. To date, Eckelmann has completed over 25 R&D collaborations and implemented over 100 custom automation systems for biotech clients, supporting them through every stage of product development and commercialization.
Automation Solutions for the Entire Production Life Cycle
At the heart of Eckelmann’s offering is its ability to integrate process control, manufacturing execution, and data analytics into cohesive systems that support robust, compliant operations. As a full-service system integrator, Eckelmann handles every stage of project execution — from conceptual design and software development to electrical engineering, panel building, installation, and qualification.
One of the company’s flagship innovations is the Eckelmann FactoryWare® platform. This modular suite of tools is designed for comprehensive process automation and analytics, supporting over 1,000 installations worldwide. Eckelmann FactoryWare® enables biopharma companies to automate critical steps in the manufacturing life cycle, including:
Dosing and Mixing: Ensuring precise control over ingredient ratios and reaction conditions
Conveying and Filling: Supporting aseptic and non-aseptic transfer processes with high accuracy
Packaging and Shipping: Enabling seamless integration with downstream logistics operations
Coupled with FactoryWare Analytics, users gain access to real-time process data, historical performance tracking, and predictive insights to support continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
Both hardware and software are developed and supplied in-house, enabling fully integrated solutions that cover everything from field-level automation to ERP integration. Eckelmann's capabilities extend from electrical and pneumatic hardware installation to system tests and commissioning, delivering complete turnkey packages from a single source.
Tailored Systems for a Regulated World
What differentiates Eckelmann in the life sciences space is its deep understanding of regulatory expectations and its ability to deliver validated solutions that meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The company’s automation platforms are designed with compliance in mind, featuring audit trails, electronic signatures, and fully validated software modules that align with the requirements of agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Eckelmann’s in-house team ensures that each system is developed in accordance with international standards such as GAMP 5 (Good Automated Manufacturing Practice) and 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and signatures. This is particularly important for biopharma customers developing complex, high-value therapies where quality, consistency, and traceability are paramount.
In addition to ISO 9001 certification, the company meets numerous industry-specific standards and regulations, including ISO 13485 (for medical technology suppliers), DIN EN 62304 (for medical device software), and CE, UL, and UKCA compliance for electrical systems.
From Lab Bench to Global Deployment
Another defining feature of Eckelmann’s approach is its scalability. Whether a client is developing a new therapy at the lab scale or looking to scale up to global commercial production, Eckelmann’s systems are designed to grow with them. Modular architectures and standardized components mean that customers can start small and expand their infrastructure over time — without needing to replace legacy systems.
The company also offers comprehensive support for technology transfer and multi-site standardization. As biopharma companies expand globally and outsource production across multiple sites, having consistent control systems and data structures becomes essential. Eckelmann facilitates this through standardized engineering documentation, harmonized software libraries, and coordinated commissioning strategies across sites.
Eckelmann also acts as a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) and offers services aligned with contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) models, including test and process development, supplier audits, and production part approval procedures (PPAP). This vertical integration allows customers to streamline procurement and reduce interface complexity across national and operational boundaries.
Meeting Today’s Challenges with Vision and Flexibility
Volker Kugel, Board Member responsible for Automation Projects at Eckelmann, emphasized the company’s commitment to helping customers navigate the complex landscape of pharmaceutical manufacturing. “We believe in a better world through industrial automation and digitalization,” Kugel said. “With our extraordinary innovative strength, flexibility, and extensive know-how, we use our expertise in the regulated environment to support research, supply security, and quality assurance.”
That vision resonates in a time when the pharmaceutical industry is under mounting pressure to produce faster, more affordably, and more sustainably. Global health crises have underscored the need for resilient manufacturing systems, while advances in biologics and personalized medicine demand greater flexibility in production infrastructure. Eckelmann’s solutions are built to address both needs, offering robust automation capabilities that also allow for adaptable manufacturing configurations.
By combining IT and automation technology, Eckelmann helps biopharma clients realize the potential of Industry 4.0. From real-time KPI monitoring to plant optimization and predictive maintenance, their systems create process reliability, improve traceability, and increase overall equipment effectiveness. Digital twins further enhance efficiency by enabling virtual testing and commissioning, reducing time, travel costs, and engineering hours.
Global Reach, Local Commitment
To support its growing international customer base, Eckelmann AG established Eckelmann USA, based in Houston, Texas. This partner serves as the coordination point for all activities in the United States and is instrumental in facilitating projects with U.S.-based clients and partners. To further expand its manufacturing and support presence in North America, Eckelmann has begun working with The Davis Group, a proven US partner specializing in control cabinet manufacturing, mechanical assembly, and on-site commissioning. This partnership enables Eckelmann to offer localized production and faster deployment of automation systems while maintaining the same high standards of engineering and regulatory compliance as its European operations. The company also maintains strategic partnerships with other leading technology firms, such as Cytiva, to ensure clients have access to a full ecosystem of innovation and expertise.
At INTERPHEX 2025, Eckelmann showcased its latest developments in automation for pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing. Their presence at the event, including a featured system on display at the Cytiva booth, highlighted how the Eckelmann FactoryWare® platform can be seamlessly integrated into broader manufacturing ecosystems. The event served as a valuable opportunity to connect with clients, demonstrate the flexibility of Eckelmann’s modular solutions, and reaffirm the company’s commitment to advancing biomanufacturing worldwide.
Looking Ahead: Shaping the Future of Biomanufacturing
The future of pharmaceutical manufacturing will be increasingly defined by data, automation, and connectivity. Smart factories, digital twins, AI-driven process optimization, and real-time compliance monitoring are no longer aspirational goals — they are becoming operational necessities. In this environment, system integrators like Eckelmann will play a vital role, not just as technology providers but as strategic enablers of transformation.
For Eckelmann, this future is already in progress. The company continues to invest in new software platforms, process simulation tools, and advanced analytics, while nurturing its core mission: to help build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world through industrial automation.
“Whether laboratory or industrial scale: Eckelmann solutions flexibilize and increase biopharmaceutical production capacities. Both – individual systems and complete plants – are automated in order to optimize production, make it more efficient, sustainable and reduce operating costs, shared Jörg Thomas, Eckelman’s Head of Sales Pharma, Biotechnology, and Medicine. “As a proven expert for the requirements of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry we fulfill the increased industry-specific regulatory requirements and regulations – where standard is not enough!”
Whether you're scaling your operations, upgrading legacy systems, or launching a new facility, Eckelmann offers the tools, expertise, and partnership needed to succeed in today’s pharmaceutical and biotech industries — and to prepare for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
