Medline Industries said today that it will start making hand sanitizer at its Hartland, Wis. plant — with a goal of producing 150,000 bottles a week by mid-April to help Americans protect against coronavirus.
The Northfield, Ill.–based medical supplies company is modifying equipment and ventilation systems for the new line. Hand sanitizer is one of the products that has been short supply as demand (as well as panic buying) increases as the COVID-19 pandemic ramps up in the U.S.
“This is an unprecedented time in healthcare with many unknowns. We knew we had to do something to help our customers and are working diligently to modify our space to bring this much-needed product to market,” says Stu Schneider, Medline group president, said in a news release.
Many businesses have been stepping in to help with the U.S. hand sanitizer shortage — including a host of alcohol distilleries.
Medline’s 300,000-square-foot plant in Wisconsin has an infection prevention products focus, making products including 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution for Medline’s recently launched ReadyPrep CHG pre-saturated cloths to reduce surgical site infections. Other products made in Hartland include skin antiseptics, body washes, lotions, over the counter drug products, povidone iodine and lubrication gel for the institutional marketplace.
Medline is transition workers involved in povidone iodine production to work on the new line. Meline may hire additional employees based on demand and raw materials availability.