Leading specialty chemicals innovator Perstop has converted part of production at its plant in Perstorp, Sweden, to now produce hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant. Perstorp has the capacity to produce more than 2 million liters per month. The production capacity is expected to exceed the health care sector’s current disinfection shortage. The products are being offered at cost price.

Jan Secher, chief executive officer of Perstorp Group, said: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary care. Our large-scale production capacity can make a real difference at this time and help to solve the disinfectant shortage in the health care sector. This is our contribution to the important work that health care 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 started this week, and the aim is to continue for as long there is an acute shortage of disinfection products within the Swedish health care sector that regular suppliers cannot fulfill. Permits and agreements for production have been finalized in record quick time together with authorities and partners.

In order to produce the disinfectant, Absolut Co. delivers ethanol, which is mixed 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 or Eurolink to Socialstyrelsen, which distributes the products to health care services in regions across Sweden. The first delivery is expected to reach Socialstyrelsen after the Easter weekend.

Ingrid Bergman, head of purchasing at Swedish Region Skåne, said, “Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of disposables such as sanitizers is a major challenge and an issue of great priority. Perstorp has shown tremendous responsibility and initiative in securing the production chain. They have made production possible by arranging all permits from the health care 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.