Chemicals company Ineos is to build a hand sanitiser plant near Middlesbrough to produce one million bottles a month within 10 days, the company has announced.
The company is already making hand sanitiser at its plants in Scotland and Germany but has reacted to the global shortage by saying it will make more at a plant on Teesside.
The sanitiser will be provided free to hospitals and says it wants to “concentrate on meeting the needs of front line medical and care services as well as making the 'pocket bottle' hand sanitisers for personal use for people across the UK and Europe.
Ineos will also supply hospitals, schools, places of work, pharmacies and supermarkets.
Company founder and chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that hand to mouth infection is a significant cause of Corona virus contagion and Ineos is Europe’s largest manufacturer of the core ingredient of hand sanitiser.
“We will build two factories in the UK and Germany in 10 days to produce very substantial supplies.”
He added: “Ineos is a company with enormous resources and manufacturing skills. If we can find other ways to help in the coronavirus battle, we are absolutely committed to playing our part.”
