Development and production of customized lecithin and lipid solutions for food, animal nutrition and cosmetics
Sternchemie GmbH & Co. KG
Hamburg · Ahrensburg · Singapore · Aurora, IL (USA)New on Amplifa
About Sternchemie
Sternchemie develops and produces customized solutions based on natural, plant-based functional lipids: lecithins, MCT oils and MCT powders, vitamin-rich red palm oil, and spray-dried coconut milk. The products serve as emulsifiers, dispersants, release agents, colorants and nutrient sources and are used, among other things, in instant products, baked goods, pasta, confectionery, margarine, beverages, sauces, vegan products, animal nutrition and cosmetics. Founded in 1980 by Volkmar Wywiol, the company is part of the owner-managed Stern-Wywiol Gruppe with more than 1,990 employees worldwide. At the Stern-Technology Centre in Ahrensburg, around 150 R&D specialists of the group have access to a broadly equipped testing environment, since 2026 including a new fluid-bed agglomerator for instantizing and lecithinating powders. For large-scale trials and scale-up, the sister company SternMaid in Wittenburg is available; through an international network with locations in Singapore and the USA, Sternchemie serves global markets.
- Site
- Hamburg
- Processes
- Development and production of customized lecithin and lipid solutions (emulsifier,, Fluid-bed agglomeration / fluid-bed technology (instantizing, lecithination of powders), Spray-dried coconut milk (spray drying), Trial production / scale-up trials in production plants (via sister company SternMaid,, Application development and product development of customized lecithin and lipid systems, Lecithination and instantizing of powders (fluid-bed agglomeration, pilot plant), R&D in the lipid laboratory and Trial Bakery, Scale-up of large-scale trials (including via sister company SternMaid in Wittenburg)
- Materials
- Lecithin (plant-based), MCT Oil, MCT Powder, Red Palm Oil, Coconut Milk Powder (spray-dried), Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Powder, MCT Oil and MCT Powder
- Certificates
- FSSC 22000, ProTerra (Non-GMO)
- Founded
- 1980
- Industries
- Food and beverage industry, Animal nutrition, Cosmetics, Dietary supplements, Food and beverage industry (instant products, baked goods, pasta/noodles,
- 01
Selection of plant-based lipid raw materials
- 02
Application development in the lipid laboratory and Trial Bakery
- 03
Trials on the fluid-bed agglomerator (pilot plant)
- 04
Scale-up of large-scale trials (including SternMaid, Wittenburg or at the
- 05
Production via a network of production sites and partner companies
- 06
Sales and logistics via an international network
Products & Active Ingredients
Lecithin (plant-based)
All-rounder as emulsifier and dispersant, e.g. for instant products, baked goods and release agents.
MCT Oil and MCT Powder
Multifunctional products as release agents, processing aids and energy source, e.g. for ketogenic diets.
Red Palm Oil
Natural coloring and oxidation stability, e.g. for pasta, margarine and sauces.
Coconut Milk Powder (spray-dried)
Spray-dried ingredient for flavor and consistency, e.g. in confectionery, beverages and vegan products.
Whey Protein Concentrate / Milk Powder
Powder base for instantizing and lecithination on the fluid-bed agglomerator.
Locations
Hamburg
DEHeadquarters
- Materials
- Lecithin, MCT, Red Palm Oil, Coconut Milk Powder
Ahrensburg
DEStern-Technology Centre (R&D)
- Lot size
- Pilot and trial production
- Materials
- Lecithin, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Powder, Nutrient Blends
- Fluid-bed agglomerator (pilot plant, 2026)
- Lipid Laboratory
- Trial Bakery
Singapore
SGAsia Sales Office (Berg + Schmidt Asia Pte Ltd)
Aurora, IL
USUSA Sales Office (Berg + Schmidt America LLC)
Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development and production of customized lecithin and lipid solutions (emulsifier,Engineering | – | – | – | – | Lecithin, MCT Oil, MCT Powder, Red Palm Oil, Coconut Milk Powder |
| Fluid-bed agglomeration / fluid-bed technology (instantizing, lecithination of powders)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Lecithin, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Powder, Nutrient Blends |
| Spray-dried coconut milk (spray drying)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Coconut milk |
| Trial production / scale-up trials in production plants (via sister company SternMaid,Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluid-Bed Agglomerator (pilot plant) | – | 1 | – | 2026 | Stern-Technology Center, Ahrensburg, Germany |
Additional services
Quality & Certification
The production site for the Asia-Pacific region is certified to FSSC 22000; Sternchemie is also certified with ProTerra (Non-GMO). Development and production follow the requirements of the food industry.
| Evidence | Asia-Pacific production site |
|---|---|
| FSSC 22000 | |
| ProTerra (Non-GMO) |
History
- 1980
Founding of Sternchemie by Volkmar Wywiol, one of the pioneers in the development and marketing of lecithins.
- 2026
Commissioning of a new fluid-bed agglomerator at the Stern-Technology Centre in Ahrensburg; one year of ProTerra certification (Non-GMO).