Perstorp Converts Production to Solve Swedish National Disinfection Crisis

Perstorp started the large-scale production of hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant for the Swedish healthcare sector – at cost price. 

With a capacity of over 2 million liters a month, the aim is to solve the current lack of disinfectants at a national level.

Perstorp converted part of the production to now produce hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant. 

Perstorp said it can produce more than 2 million liters per month. The production capacity is expected to exceed the healthcare sector’s current disinfection shortage. 

“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 healthcare sector,” Perstorp Group CEO Jan Secher said. “This is our contribution to the important work that healthcare 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 has started in early April and the aim is to continue for as long there is an acute shortage of disinfection products within the Swedish healthcare sector that regular suppliers cannot fulfill. 

Permits and agreements for production have been finalized in record quick time together with authorities and partners. 

To produce the disinfectant, Absolut Company delivers ethanol, which is mixed together with other ingredients. This is delivered to the Perstorp industrial plant with the help of Univar Solutions and ExxonMobil. 

The disinfectant is bottled by Lefab Production and transported by Bertschi, Scandibulk och Eurolink to Socialstyrelsen, which distributes the products to healthcare services in regions across Sweden. The first delivery is expected to reach Socialstyrelsen after the Easter weekend.

“Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of disposables such as sanitizers is a major challenge and an issue of great priority,” said Ingrid Bergman, head of Purchasing at Swedish Region Skåne. “Perstorp has shown tremendous responsibility and initiative in securing the production chain. They have made production possible by arranging all permits from the healthcare sector in cooperation with us, as well as several authorities and other companies.”