Covid-19 has the world under control, but innovative companies are making the best of the situation. Oil manufacturers such as Panolin and Motorex are no longer just producing engine oil that is good for our classic cars. For some weeks now, these companies have also been offering disinfectants that help our hygiene. This production is not economically viable, but in these difficult times it is more important to help where help is needed.
Now also available for customers
Originally, the products were primarily manufactured for employees and the healthcare sector. Reto Tschannen from Motorex: "Due to numerous requests for disinfectants, we applied for and received approval from the FOPH around two weeks ago to distribute our own product (previously used internally). The specially equipped production line is currently being operated in two shifts. Our customers are from all sectors, but also hospitals, emergency services, Spitex organizations and police forces."
Innovations for the future
"It is now foreseeable that restrictions will be relaxed sooner or later in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. In this case, the safety of customers and employees will be crucial. We have therefore developed a solution concept in collaboration with the company Lanz-Anliker, which, in addition to hand and surface disinfection, also includes a reusable protective mask with replaceable insert membranes. Lanz-Anliker is a leading manufacturer of medical textiles. With this offer, we are targeting businesses that are likely to have to implement effective protective measures for customers and employees in order to be able to resume operations quickly," says Tschannen.
Idea comes from employees
At Panolin, the idea of producing their own disinfectant came from some employees. "As disinfectant was sold out almost everywhere, employees came to the laboratory and asked if we could produce our own disinfectant," says Dr. Patrick Galda, Head of Development and member of the Executive Board. "We took up the idea immediately, got to work and were soon able to start production," says Galda. "The development, formulation, testing and production took a few days," says CEO Silvan Lämmle. "We won't really earn any money with it. It took too many hours of development to pass this on to the small quantity. But that's not the point now. We are calculating a product price and not a market price," Lämmle continues.
It's nice to see how the world seems to be growing together during the crisis, even in the economy, and how innovative entrepreneurs are developing product ideas that help us all.
