Cooke subsidiary refits factory to make sanitiser

Bioriginal has gained regulatory approval to produce three different sanitising products – a gel for hands, a surface sanitiser that replaces rubbing alcohol and a workplace sanitiser for equipment.

The sanitisers, produced in Saskatoon in the mid-Canada province of Saskatchewan and branded BioTide, are now being distributed to local health authorities, with retailers following in the coming weeks.

Guided by WHO

Bioriginal was acquired by Cooke in 2017 when it bought Omega Protein Corporation, and makes plant and dairy proteins, plant and marine oils and nutraceutical products at its facilities in Canada, the United States and the Netherlands.

The company worked closely with the University of Saskatchewan to develop a sanitiser formula guided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We knew we wanted to step up in the best way we could to help with the demand. We worked with our existing suppliers to source the raw materials necessary to develop the approved formula,” said Bioriginal president Joe Vidal.

Explosion-proof packaging

The Saskatoon factory underwent retrofits to prepare for production of the new substances. Changes included a ventilated fireproof processing area using skylights to provide illumination, pneumatic fillers, a new conveyor system using hydraulic power packs, the installation of true earth grounding to remove static electricity and explosion-proof packaging.

Bioriginal staff were trained on new safety protocols including procedures on safe handling of flammable liquids.

“The retrofits and renovations to the plant were something we were prepared to do in order to supply our health authorities during this pandemic,” added Vidal.

“As a family company we are making every effort to support our local hospitals, clinics, and retail locations in our communities to ensure front line essential workers and the general public have access to certified safety products.”