Fast moving regulatory go-aheads for process changes coupled with inter-company cooperation are helping the chemical industry fill the gap for Covid-19-related shortages of sanitizer materials. Specialty chemicals company Perstorp has converted production at its plant near Malmö, Sweden, to deliver over 2 million L/month of hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant to the country’s healthcare sector. Sweden has struggled with severe disinfectant shortages during the Covid-19 outbreak and Perstorp’s move is expected to more than make up the shortfall. The company is offering the products at cost. Bringing the supply online has posed both regulatory and logistic challenges. According to a company spokeswoman, the permits and agreements needed for the new production output were finalized with regulatory authorities and other partners in record time. “Things that would normally take weeks or months were achieved in days,” she said.

 

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