Perstorp, a global leader in the specialty chemicals market, has started the large-scale production of hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant for the Swedish healthcare sector – at cost price. With a capacity of over two million litres a month, the aim is to solve the current lack of disinfectants at a national level.

Leading specialty chemicals innovator Perstorp has converted part of the production at its’ Perstorp plant to now produce hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant. Perstorp has the capacity to produce more than two million litres per month. The production capacity is expected to exceed the healthcare sector’s current disinfection shortage. The products are being offered at cost price.

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary care.,” comments Jan Secher, CEO of Perstorp Group. “Our large scale production capacity can make a real difference at this time and help to solve the disinfectant shortage in the healthcare sector. This is our contribution to the important work that healthcare professionals are doing every day. I am proud that our innovative staff saw this opportunity to help. They have driven this initiative forward together with valuable help from authorities and partners.”

Production has started this week and the aim is to continue for as long there is an acute shortage of disinfection products within the Swedish healthcare sector, that regular suppliers cannot fulfill. Permits and agreements for production have been finalised in record quick time together with authorities and partners. In order to produce the disinfectant, Absolut Company delivers ethanol, which is mixed together with other ingredients. This is delivered to the Perstorp industrial plant with help of Univar Solutions and ExxonMobil. The disinfectant is bottled by Lefab Production and transported by Bertschi, Scandibulk och Eurolink to Socialstyrelsen, which distributes the products to healthcare services in regions across Sweden. The first delivery is expected to reach Socialstyrelsen after the Easter weekend.

“Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the shortage of disposables such as sanitisers is a major challenge and an issue of great priority,” says Ingrid Bergman, Head of Purchasing at Swedish Region Skåne. “Perstorp has shown tremendous responsibility and initiative in securing the production chain. They have made production possible by arranging all permits from the healthcare sector in cooperation with us, as well as several authorities and other companies.”

Region Skåne is responsible for health care and public transport, business development, culture, infrastructure, social planning and environmental and climate-related issues in Skåne county, Sweden.