About Asahi Kasei Bioprocess
About Asahi Kasei Bioprocess
Our Business Overview
Pioneering Biologics Safety and Manufacturing Efficiency
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess is a global solution provider to biologics manufacturing industry. We aim to help biologics manufacturers safely and efficiently produce medicines that patients can trust, by dependably supplying innovative yet exceptionally reliable bioprocess consumables, equipment and scientific support services.
While Asahi Kasei Bioprocess has established a market leadership in virus filtration, we aim to be the global leader and experts in contributing to biologics safety and manufacturing efficiency by leveraging our core technology, brand and services in virus removal.
As a part of the Asahi Kasei Group's sharpening focus on healthcare-related fields, Asahi Kasei Bioprocess is steadily developing its range of advanced manufacturing solutions for the bioprocess industry.
Our Global Network

Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
Bioprocess Division
Tokyo 100-0006 Japan
Tel:+81-3-6699-3782
Fax:+81-3-6699-3784
Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
Planova Plant
Miyazaki 882-0847 Japan
Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
Planova Oita Plant
Oita 870-0396 Japan
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc.
1855 Elmdale Avenue Glenview, IL 60026 USATel:+1-847-556-9700
Fax:+1-847-556-9701
Bioprocess and tides equipment products
1855 Elmdale Avenue Glenview, IL 60026 USAAsahi Kasei Bioprocess (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
8/F, One ICC Shanghai International Commerce CentreNo. 999 Huaihai Zhong Road
Shanghai 200031 China
Tel:+86-21-6391-6111 (250)
Fax:+86-21-6391-6686
Asahi Kasei India Pvt. Ltd.
The Capital 1502B, Plot C70, G-BlockBandra Kurla Complex, Bandra(East)
Mumbai 400051 India
Tel:+91-22-6710-3962
Fax:+91-22-6710-3979
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess Europe S.A./N.V.
Cologne Technical Center
51105 Cologne Germany
Tel:+49-221-995007-0
Fax:+49-221-9950077-10
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess Deutschland GmbH
Gottfried-Hagen Strasse 2051105 Cologne Germany
Tel:+49-221-995007-59
Fax:+49-221-9950077-59
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess Europe S.A./N.V.
Silver BuildingBoulevard Auguste Reyers 70
1030 Brussels Schaerbeek
Belgium
Tel:+32-2-526-0500
Fax:+32-2-526-0510
Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc.
Massachusetts Training Center
Tel:+1-847-556-9700
Fax:+1-847-556-9701
Our History
In 1980s, rise of awareness on the need to further strengthen viral safety of plasma-derived pharmaceutical products emerged globally due to a number of contamination cases that impacted thousands of patients, specifically those suffered from haemophilia.
Recognizing the issue, Asahi Kasei rose to develop filters specifically designed to remove viruses from plasma-derived pharmaceutical products, leveraging its solid expertise in fibers and filtration technology. The filters were later named "Planova", originated from the words "Plasma" and "Nova" (which means "New Star" in Latin). The world's first virus filter was Planova 35N, with membrane mean pore size of 35 nm, and through collaboration with various pharmaceutical companies, universities, research institutions and regulatory agencies, was successfully evaluated to be able to remove viruses such as HIV and HBV. It was the start of virus filtration technology that later become industry standard.
From there, our road was not easy, and our path to being the leader and experts in the industry does not happen overnight. There was time when we were faced with challenges to continue our business, but with commitment from our staff and support from the industry, we will continue to strive to fulfill our mission: Pioneering Biologics Safety and Manufacturing Efficiency.
While we have accumulated over 30 years of trusted use in the production of biotherapeutics with Planova virus removal filters, we continue to innovate solutions, products and services to help our customers in achieving biologics safety and manufacturing efficiency.
1987 |
Establishment of "Bemberg Microporous Membrane" Project, which later became Planova Division and developed Planova filters |
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1989 |
Launch of Planova 35N virus removal filters as the world's first filters specifically designed for virus removal in biotherapeutics manufacturing ![]() |
1993 |
Launch of Planova 15N virus removal filters to capture smaller viruses |
1994 |
Foundation of TechniKrom, Inc. in Illinois, USA (which later became a part of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess) |
1997 |
Official opening of Planova Plant in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan |
1998 |
- Establishment of the first Planova representatives in Europe and United States of America ![]() |
2000 |
- Opening of a new Planova filter assembly facility in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan (current Planova Assembly Fab 1) ![]() ![]() |
2001 |
Launch of Planova 20N virus removal filters that capture small viruses while accommodating needs for higher flux ![]() |
2003 |
- Establishment of Asahi Kasei Planova Europe S.A. in Brussels, Belgium (which later became Asahi Kasei Bioprocess Europe S.A./N.V.) |
2004 |
Opening of a new regenerated cellulose hollow fiber spinning facility for Planova filters in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan (current Planova Spinning Fab 1) |
2005 |
- Establishment of the Long Island Branch within Asahi Kasei Medical America, Inc. to support Planova business in the United States of America |
2006 |
Launch of IBD inline buffer dilution system by TechniKrom, Inc. (which later became a part of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess) ![]() |
2009 |
- Launch of Planova BioEX, high capacity virus removal filters for biopharmaceutical processing ![]() |
2010 |
- Establishment of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess, Inc. (which later became Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc.) |
2011 |
- Launch of Asahi Gold Particle Test System (AGPTS), an automated integrity test system for Planova filters ![]() ![]() |
2012 |
- Launch of Virus Filtration Controller, an automated virus filtration system for Planova filters |
2013 |
- Establishment of a local support office for Planova in India as a part of Asahi Kasei India Pvt. Ltd. |
2018 |
- Release of a brand new website experience at planova.ak-bio.com! |
2019 |
- Opening of Massachusetts Training Center in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA to promote interactive learning experience of bioprocess technologies ![]() |
2021 |
- Commencing business of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (AKBC) in China |
2022 |
- Acquisition of Bionique Testing Laboratories LLC (Headquarters: New York, USA), which provides mycoplasma testing services for the biotherapeutics and life-sciences industries |