Healthcare: Air Liquide builds new specialty ingredients production facility in the U.S. for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical markets

Air Liquide announces that its subsidiaries Seppic, healthcare specialty ingredients manufacturer, and Schülke, hygiene specialist, broke ground on a green-field state of the art production facility in Sandston, Henrico County - Virginia, United States. Expected to start operations in the first half of 2018, the planned investment is over $60 million¹ and will create approximately 50 new jobs in the community.

This new production facility will manufacture ingredients for the cutting-edge cosmetic and pharmaceutical global markets. The market for personal care specialty ingredients is worth more than $10 billion globally, of which the U.S. represents 25%.

With this facility, the two companies will strengthen their proximity to American customers. The facility is located in the Northeast of the U.S., where the majority of the companies’ customers are. It will be run by a joint venture between Seppic and Schülke, named Polykon Manufacturing. Their resulting synergies will enable to create additional value in their field of expertise while addressing the growing need for innovations in these markets.

François Jackow, member of the Air Liquide group’s Executive Committee, supervising the Healthcare activities, said: “Seppic and Schülke have a long presence in the United States serving leading health and beauty care customers. This first manufacturing unit for the two companies in the U.S. will extend their innovative potential and enlarge their industrial footprint and proximity with customers within North America, while strengthening their manufacturing capabilities globally. With this investment, Air Liquide pursues the development of its Hygiene and Specialty Ingredients activities, thus strengthening the Group’s Healthcare business in this region.”

 
¹ A 2015 investment decision

Air Liquide Healthcare

supplies medical gases, home healthcare services, hygiene products, medical equipment and specialty ingredients. In 2015, it served over 7,500 hospitals and 1.3 million patients at home throughout the world. The Group’s Healthcare business reached €2,800 million in revenues in 2015, with the support of its 13,500 employees.

Seppic in brief

Subsidiary of the Air Liquide group within the Healthcare activity, Seppic designs and supplies a wide range of specialty ingredients for health and beauty care. Present in over 100 countries through its affiliates and network of distributors, Seppic employs 630 people around the world, including 100 employees dedicated to innovation. www.seppic.com

Schülke in brief

Subsidiary of the Air Liquide group within the Healthcare activity and expert in hospital disinfection, Schülke designs and supplies since more than 125 years a wide range of disinfectants and antiseptics mainly for medical environment to actively contribute to patient safety. Present in 80 countries through its affiliates and network of distributors, Schülke employs over 900 people around the world, including 70 researchers. www.schuelke.com