HTBA injects €25M into Europe’s only facility manufacturing all active forms of B12

HealthTech BioActives (HTBA), a manufacturer of citrus flavonoids and active forms of vitamin B12, has injected €25 million (US$26 million) into modernizing its research, development, and manufacturing center in Murcia, Spain.

The initiative included the construction of a new state-of-the-art production plant, which was officially inaugurated on January 28, making HTBA the only company in Europe capable of producing all active forms of vitamin B12.

“Our origins in citrus flavonoids and vitamin B12 date back more than 45 years and this innovation project marks a huge milestone for HTBA, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to producing high-quality, environmentally responsible products on a global scale,” says HTBA CEO, Alexandre Valls-Coma.

“Through this significant investment, we’re not only reinforcing our global leadership in the production of active forms of vitamin B12 and citrus flavonoids, but we’re also furthering our commitment to upholding the highest standards in sustainability and innovation.”

To this end, the investment also modernizes the company’s existing citrus flavonoid production plant, enabling further development of HTBA’s patented manufacturing process for a specific type of flavonoid, diosmin — an ingredient that can help promote blood circulation and address vascular discomfort.

This new production process replaces artificial solvents with water. As a result, HTBA is now the only company in the world capable of manufacturing diosmin without the use of artificial solvents.

The new and upgraded facilities harness advanced technology and automation systems that support the use of renewable energy and optimize resource consumption. HTBA shares the investment has enabled 98% of waste generated to be recovered, revalued, or recycled.

While many vitamins are produced in chemical factories, often synthetically, scientists at the Technical University of Denmark recently succeeded in developing a natural and simple method for producing vitamin B2 (riboflavin) by gently heating lactic acid bacteria. They highlight that it produces significant quantities in a cost-effective and climate-friendly method.