Process – People – Product

Science has always played a crucial role in advancing medical treatment, and nowhere is this more relevant than at Sartorius, a leading German technology company for laboratories and the biopharmaceutical industry whose self-declared mission is no less than to “empower scientists and engineers to simplify and accelerate progress in life science and bioprocessing, enabling the development of new and better therapies and more affordable medicine.” Yet how to share such a complex vision with the world in accessible terms? The answer lies in Process – People – Product, three photobooks and a text booklet that form a dynamic portrait of the company and lead us behind its normally closed doors.

In “Process” Timm Rautert takes us directly into Sartorius’ laboratories and production facilities, depicting what he calls an “architecture of process” and conveying the sense of wonder it creates. “People” is Juergen Teller’s candid look at the creative personalities that drive the company, though his fascination goes far beyond any standard portrait: “I was keen to photograph everything: the building, the flowers, the donkey, life around the lunchtime ice-cream parlor, the high-tech machines.” Finally, Henry Leutwyler brings a selection of machines from Sartorius’ rich archive to life, from an imperial patent of 1890 to today’s most advanced circuit boards, microbalances and bioreactors. The result is an intricate publication that not only celebrates a groundbreaking organization but reminds us of the vital relationship between science and technology.