Tosoh
customer magazine
In July 1989, Dr. Juergen Friedle, together with a small team, foun-
ded TosoHaas GmbH, Stuttgart, a joint venture of Tosoh Corporation,
Japan and Rohm and Haas, US. The German company was respon-
sible for selling and distributing Tosoh chromatography columns and
resins as well as the Rohm and Haas Amberchrom
TM
resins across
Europe, the Middle East, and India. At that time biotechnology was
a young industry: the first biologic – recombinant human insulin –
was launched some years before and the human genome project was
still in the planning process. TSKgel HPLC columns for size exclusion
chromatography such as the SW and PW series were already well
established in Europe. TOYOPEARL media, introduced in 1979, was
quite a new development and specifically designed for use in biophar-
maceutical production.
TosoHaas GmbH experienced continuous growth and in 2001, Tosoh
Corporation Japan took a controlling interest and converted the com-
pany to a wholly Tosoh subsidiary, re-named Tosoh Biosep GmbH.
The same process occurred with our American sister company, Tosoh
Bioscience LLC. Now all responsibility for sales of Tosoh columns and
resins worldwide were under one roof. The lost Amberchrom pro-
ducts sales with the separation from Rohm and Haas were quickly
replaced by sales of Tosoh products.
In 2002, all Tosoh affiliated separation and diagnostic related compa-
nies were unified under the name Tosoh Bioscience. All supply chain
services for the Bioscience group were centralized in one place at the
former diagnostic subsidiary in Tessenderlo, Belgium. Today Tessen-
derlo is still the distribution hub for the European Tosoh business with
a dedicated team to handle all enquiries, orders and requests in an
efficient and professional way.
The team based in Stuttgart is now solely focused on sales, marketing,
and technical support. All resources are directed into dealing with the
Tosoh products and customers. A specialized sales team looks after
all customer requests and enquiries, maintaining a close relationship
with TSKgel and TOYOPEARL users. The renowned Chromatography
Workshops have been held for 17 years now. The courses provide a
comprehensive background to bioprocess chromatographic purifica-
tion. Over time more than 500 participants used this opportunity to
broaden or refresh their chromatography knowledge.
In 2008 the EcoSEC semi-micro GPC system was introduced to the
European market. A high temperature GPC system, the EcoSEC-HT,
combined with suitable GPC columns joined the product family this
year. Latest developments in TOYOPEARL process resins, such as an
ultra-high capacity Protein A resin for antibody manufacturing and
a mixed-mode resin, as well as innovative (U)HPLC columns, have
further contributed to continuous growth.
The year 2015 will mark again an important milestone in the history of
Tosoh in Europe. Tosoh Bioscience GmbH will move from its current
location in Stuttgart to the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region,
a bustling cultural and financial center situated in the heart of Europe.
Read more on page 7.
We are looking forward to the years to come and feature our silver
jubilee with a new clip on our YouTube channel.
Link
25 YEARS of TOSOH BIOSCIENCE IN EUROPE
In 1989 TosoHaas GmbH, a joint venture of Tosoh Corporation, Japan and Rohm and Haas, US started business in Eu-
rope. The past 25 years saw many changes and innovations. In 1989, business was much different than today: Every
European country had its own currency, mobile communication just started and the fax was the common way of
communication. Today we have the Euro and communicate through mail, internet, and social media. Alongside the
successful development of the global biopharmaceutical industry, the bioseparation business experienced conti-
nuous growth.
06
HISTORY
