Ecolab ramps up production to help NHS fight infection

Ecolab says it has been a long-term supplier to the NHS Supply Chain, providing infection-prevention solutions, combined with service and training, to help ensure cleaner and safer healthcare environments. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for infection-prevention solutions has surged, and Ecolab says it has worked closely with NHS Supply Chain to help ensure the right products are delivered where they are needed most across the NHS and health and social care.

The company says it has increased manufacturing capacity by 700 per cent across Europe to help meet demand. To supply this record quantity of hand sanitiser, it has mobilised its Weavergate production plant in Northwich, Cheshire. The manufacturing team set up a new mixing and filling line in six weeks to locally produce alcohol-based hand rub for professional use in large quantities. The first bottles were filled and delivered in early July, and Ecolab says further enhancements will help produce a quarter of a million bottles per week from September. Twenty new associates have been hired locally to support the production team of more than 50 full-time workers.

The five million litres of Skinman Soft Protect FF will be delivered in one-litre bottles. Ecolab describes the product as a liquid, alcohol-based hand rub with a unique, skin-friendly formulation, with full virucidal efficacy in 30 seconds according to EN 14476. Ecolab adds that it has also been supplying a wider range of hand-hygiene and high-level surface disinfection products compliant with EN 14476 or that have limited-spectrum activity against vaccinia virus according to EN 14476.

Miranda Gordon, head of Category, Wound Care and Infection Control at NHS Supply Chain, commented: “Ecolab has been a reliable partner at the heart of the crisis. Their healthcare team has always been a phone call away and have proven great resilience to help supply disinfection products. Now that the peak has passed, we are building new stock of critical products to ensure our preparedness, whatever may come. We are grateful to Ecolab for the continuous support.”

To find out more, visit www.ecolab.com