List of manufacturers switching to hand sanitiser keeps growing

Manufacturers around the world are joining the battle against the spread of Covid-19 by providing essential supplies. The growing list of companies who have shifted their production slates to produce hand sanitiser, materials for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medical devices and more includes Mercedes, L'Oréal, Air Liquide, MOL Group, Dyson, Siemens, WASP and many more.

To help combat the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa, Sasol has developed a new blend of alcohol-based chemicals to be used in manufacturing of hand sanitisers to help address the increase in market demand for these products.

Sasol is a producer and bulk supplier of high purity ethanol, isopropanol and n-Propanol alcohols, which are solvent chemicals used in the production of sanitisers, amongst other key chemicals. The company supplies these to distributors globally.

“Over the past few weeks, Sasol has experienced an increase in demand of nearly 400% for alcohol-based products.  In recent weeks, we have delivered close to eight million litres to the South African market and our laboratories, production, marketing and supply chain teams are working around the clock to ensure a reliable supply of critical alcohol-based products to customers,” said Sasol President and CEO Fleetwood Grobler. 

In France, ingredients company Roquette Frères has adapted one of its pilot lines at its site in Lestrem to manufacture a hydro-alcoholic disinfectant solution. The production started last week and the first shipment has now been sent, free of charge, to the Lille University Hospital Center, to the French Blood Donors Organisation and to other local health facilities, in coordination with the “Hauts-de-France Regional Health Agency” and the local authorities.

While this type of solution is not usually produced by Roquette, the company adjusted one of its R&D pilot units in Lestrem and obtained the required regulatory approvals to produce the hydro-alcoholic solution.

Roquette will produce 5,000 litres of this solution per week as a first step. 500 litres will be used internally to strengthen the existing measures put in place to protect employees and contractors working at company’s sites. This will allow the continuity of their operations, critical to ensure the supply of plant-based ingredients to Food and Pharmaceutical markets. 4,000 litres will be distributed every week, free of charge, to the Lille University Hospital Centre and 500 litres will address the needs of the French Blood Donors Organisation and the healthcare workers of other local health facilities.

Biosciences company Amyris also announced that it is launching a hand sanitiser product line to help address the high demand triggered by Covid-19. Amyris plans to donate part of the supply to front-line health staffers and medical personnel.

Additionally, the company has completed initial testing of a leading vaccine adjuvant. In partnership with the Infectious Diseases Research Institute (IDRI), Amyris has completed initial testing of its fermentation-derived squalene as a vaccine adjuvant. The company is in active discussion with a leader in the pharmaceutical industry to target broad application of Amyris squalene in flu and potential Covid-19 vaccines.

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