The most modern facility in Europe for advanced surgical dressings has been inaugurated in Mikkeli (St. Michael), Finland. Behind this investment of about SEK 200 million and 100 newly created jobs is Mölnlycke Health Care of Sweden. Their leading edge technology in this branch is the patented Safetac line, silicon-coated surgical dressing products which have well-documented patient-friendly and healing characteristics.

The factory has been rebuilt in just 18 months, and is now Europe's most modern plant of its type. Among other things the facility meets the most demanding requirements in respect of the microbiological environment, in order to guarantee the highest quality for its sterile products.

The investment in the remote town of Mikkeli, 2 hours by car from Helsinki, has taken place against a background of good access to competent staff, a clearly expressed desire for local growth and the availability of an EU contribution.

Since there is 15% unemployment in Mikkeli, 5% above Finland's national average, the 100 extra jobs that have now been created are very welcome.

"With this plant we have more than doubled our local capacity," says Finn Johnsson, Managing Director of Mölnlycke Health Care.
"Advanced surgical dressings is the area within the Group that has the quickest growth. The facility in Mikkeli will now be the specialist plant in which we can concentrate and refine our manufacture of surgical dressing products."

Even though the Mölnlycke Group is relatively small compared to its competitors such as 3M, Johnson & Johnson, Convatec, etc., it manages to hold its own in the surgical dressing products field. The thoroughly patented leading products in the Safetac range have, with their remarkable properties, won great respect from doctors, nurses and other care specialists in a number of international markets. Among other features the gentle adhesion that characterises this "sticking plaster" means that it does not damage or irritate partly healed wounds when the dressing is changed. This reduces pain and speeds up healing.

The market for surgical dressings is believed to have immense growth potential, at a projected annual rate of 6 to 8%. This forecast reflects among other things a rapid increase in the proportion of older people in society during the next 25 years. It is estimated that the number of over-65s will rise world-wide to 600 million in this period. This is an age group where such problems as diabetes, bedsores, circulation problems and so on lead to an ever greater need for good and easily used surgical dressing products, both in institutions and for home care.


For further information please contact:
Ulf Jonsson, Product Manager, Safetac
Tel: +46 31 722 30 34
Fax: +46 31 722 34 05
Web site: www.wm.molnlyckehc.com/safetac

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