Company leverages its deep knowledge in chemical production to support COVID-19 first responders.
Berlin, Germany – April 10, 2020 – Atotech announced today its support of Berlin, Germany’s Charité Hospital, one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, and Jesenice General Hospital, in Slovenia, by producing and donating hand sanitizer, which was delivered in early April. Geoff Wild, Atotech’s Chief Executive Officer, explained: “The COVID-19 crisis represents an unprecedented global challenge which calls for creative and bold solutions to help mitigate its spread. We are thrilled and honored to be able to use our deep knowledge of chemical production and handling to support and protect the medical first responders in some of our local communities, including the clinical staff, doctors, nurses, and care workers, who are working tirelessly to give patients the best care possible.”
Atotech, whose primary business is developing and producing surface-finishing chemistry and equipment for the electronic and industrial end-markets, was able to produce and donate several thousand litres of the sanitizing solution, despite the currently limited access to raw materials crucial for its production. The manufacturing took place at Atotech’s sites in Neuruppin, Brandenburg/Germany, and Podnart, Slovenia. These locations both meet the many requirements necessary to facilitate the production. Additionally, Atotech will support the Charité in the process of transferring disinfecting solution from 1,000 litre containers into more practical sizes, by making its packaging facilities, materials and infrastructure available.
John Stephenson, Atotech’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are very proud that within just a few days’ notice our teams were able to mobilize and make the required adjustments to our manufacturing processes to help ease the disinfecting material supply bottleneck so many communities are facing.”
Atotech is currently evaluating if more of its global locations can obtain the required raw materials and local permits to produce hand sanitizer to help mitigate the current global shortage.
Atotech produced the sanitizing liquid in accordance with a formulation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Contact:
Susanne Richter
+49 30 349 85 418
press@atotech.com