Flavors Firm Firmenich Ups Hand Sanitizer Capacity

Flavors and fragrances manufacturer Firmenich is working to increase its capacity for hand sanitizers to 100 tn, the company said in a press release. The increased production volume will support hospitals, healthcare services, and emergency agencies in the US and Switzerland involved in the fight against COVID-19. 

“As a responsible company, it is critical for us to take action and demonstrate our solidarity with the local communities where we operate in these unprecedented times,” the firm’s chief executive officer, Gilbert Ghostine, said in a statement. “This hand sanitizer will allow us to protect our people and the frontline emergency staff working relentlessly to combat this pandemic.”

The company recently reconfigured its plant in Geneva, Switzerland to manufacture hand sanitizer and donated 20 tn of product to local healthcare workers. Other production lines in Europe and Asia may also be converted to hand sanitizer production. 

Firmenich is one of many companies to adapt their production assets for products and materials needed to combat the novel coronavirus. BASF is currently reworking several of its Personal Care plants in Europe to supply hand sanitizer. A Huntsman facility in Alabama is also switching to hand sanitizer production. INEOS launched an ambitious effort to build a new hand sanitizer plant within 10 days. 

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