Saxon Minister learns about AI-assisted fragrance development and major planned investment.
Two topics took center stage during a tour of production, research and development: the use of AI in fragrance development in collaboration with the University of Leipzig and a planned major investment in a new fragrance production facility at the Miltitz site.
During the tour of the production facility, Minister Panter saw firsthand how finished flavour and fragrance compositions are created from raw materials: from weighing and blending through quality control to filling. Some 5,000 tonnes of finished products leave the 200,000-square-metre site in Leipzig-Miltitz every year – flavours, fragrances and botanical extracts used in food, cosmetics and household care products worldwide. The site also serves as headquarters for Bell’s EMEAI business region.
Bell is working with the University of Leipzig to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate development cycles and more precisely predict the sensory properties of fragrances. A Bell employee is completing a PhD as part of the project at the Faculty of Chemistry. Further research partnerships with Saxon universities are in preparation.
“AI opens up a new dimension for us: faster, more precise, more sustainable. Building this expertise together with Saxon universities strengthens both sides,” said CEO Holger Wetzler.
When a mid-sized company with almost 200 years of experience uses AI to advance its products, that sends a signal far beyond the industry itself.
The minister informed himself also about the planned new, highly automated fragrance production facility in Miltitz – featuring heat recovery systems, energy-efficient plant technology and the long-term goal of tripling liquid fragrance capacity at the site. The feasibility study has been completed.
The project start is currently on hold. “We want to make this investment in Saxony – deliberately and with conviction. But we need a clear funding perspective and reliable framework conditions from the Free State,” said Wetzler.
