Dow to expand hand sanitizer production at additional sites in North America, Europe and Latin America
March 30 2020 - 10:15AM
Business Wire
- Five Dow sites expected to produce more than 200 metric tons,
equivalent to more than 880,000 eight-ounce bottles
- Product will be donated to local health systems and government
agencies
- Deliveries from additional production expected to begin this
week
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact
around the world and needed medical, health and hygiene products
are in short supply. After assessing the Company’s capability to
manufacture hand sanitizer at its facilities around the world, Dow
(NYSE: DOW) today announced that its manufacturing sites in Auburn,
Michigan; South Charleston, West Virginia; Seneffe, Belgium; and
Hortolândia, Brazil possess the necessary raw material handling,
mixing and packaging capabilities and will produce hand sanitizer.
These locations join Dow’s site in Stade, Germany which already
produced hand sanitizer for donation.
Dow does not typically produce hand sanitizer, but a large
portion of the required raw materials are readily available at
Company sites. In addition, Dow’s asset flexibility allows for a
meaningful volume of sanitizer to be produced with little to no
impact to normal operations.
Dow collaborated with officials in each of the locations to
understand their needs and requirements. In the U.S., the Company
worked with officials in Michigan and West Virginia, as well as the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau, and the Department of Homeland Security. These
agencies provided useful, timely guidance as Dow completed the
permitting, licensing and raw material procurement processes.
Dow’s Auburn site has the capacity to produce approximately
15,000 pounds (7 metric tons) of hand sanitizer per week, which
equates to nearly 30,000 eight-ounce bottles. Similar or greater
volumes are expected to be produced at the other Dow locations.
When all of these locations are at full production, Dow’s
collective output is expected to reach more than 440,000 pounds
(200 metric tons), or the equivalent of more than 880,000
eight-ounce bottles. Production of hand sanitizer will occur for
approximately four weeks in the four Dow sites announced today,
after which time Dow will assess extending production based on raw
material availability and market need.
All of the hand sanitizer that will be produced has been
allocated with the majority for donation to health systems and
government agencies for distribution. Hand sanitizer will also be
distributed to Dow production sites to help protect employees who
are on the frontline and ensuring Dow’s manufacturing facilities
continue to run safely. First deliveries are expected to begin this
week.
Hand sanitizer will be donated to the following entities:
- State of Michigan
- THRIVE (Transforming Health Regionally in a Vibrant Economy), a
co-led initiative between the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance
and the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, for distribution to area
hospitals and first responders in the Great Lakes Bay Region
- State of West Virginia
- City of Charleston and South Charleston, West Virginia
- Federal Government of Belgium
- Public hospitals in the cities of Campinas, Hortolândia and
Jundiaí, Brazil
“We are proud to put our global assets to work to help combat
the spread of the coronavirus. The combined efforts of our five
sites around the world enables us to produce and donate a
tremendous amount of this much needed product to help protect human
health and safety,” said Jim Fitterling, Dow’s chief executive
officer. “This effort has been made possible through the swift
efforts of Team Dow, in collaboration with raw material suppliers,
state and federal regulatory officials and volunteers. We intend to
continue producing hand sanitizer as long as raw materials are
available and supply is short.”
“We’ve seen an incredible amount of strength and courage of
Michiganders during this time of uncertainty, whether it’s from
communities donating food, money, and resources to those that need
it or from businesses using their technology to manufacture
personal protective equipment,” said Michigan Governor Whitmer.
“This action from Dow and its hardworking employees will help us
protect more Michigan families and slow the spread of COVID-19 in
our state. I’m proud to work with Dow and every business that steps
up during this time to protect Michigan families.”
Dow’s existing production capabilities are critical to supplying
many of the most vital hygiene and medical products and
technologies to help address the COVID-19 pandemic, such as
disinfectants, sanitizers, cleansers, plastics used in the
production of disposable personal protection equipment for medical
professionals, memory foams for hospital beds, and more.
Please visit the CDC and WHO websites for the latest, reliable
information on COVID-19.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and
scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve
profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most
innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials
science company. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial
intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad
range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for
its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging,
infrastructure and consumer care. Dow operates 109 manufacturing
sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 36,500 people. Dow
delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2019. References to
Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more
information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on
Twitter.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200330005398/en/
Kyle Bandlow +1 989-638-2417 kbandlow@dow.com
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