Ontario Supports Local Manufacturing of Disinfectant during COVID-19

WINDSOR — The Ontario government is investing nearly $850,000 in Dimachem Inc. to locally produce Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner-Disinfectant, which has been proven to be effective in killing SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) on frequently used hard, non-porous surfaces. The Windsor-based company is planning to manufacture about 12 million bottles of Pine-Sol per year, and create 14 jobs. The funding is being flowed through the Ontario Together Fund.

Details were provided today by Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

“Ontario has strong supply chains, a skilled workforce and the manufacturing might to make the emergency supplies we need here at home, without having to rely on other jurisdictions,” said Minister Fedeli. “It is because of companies like Dimachem that Ontario is well-equipped with a reliable domestic supply of PPE and other critical supplies to get us through this emergency and ensure our preparedness for future challenges.”

Dimachem Inc. is a Windsor-based chemical blending and packaging manufacturer founded in 1972. The company produces industrial chemicals for the auto industry, as well as cleaning and sanitation products. It quickly pivoted to producing hand sanitizers and disinfectants during the pandemic.

Dimachem has entered a multi-year toll manufacturing contract with The Clorox Company, a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, to manufacture 12 million bottles of Pine-Sol per year. For the project, Dimachem will establish a new production line and modify its facility in Windsor to make the product in-house. Dimachem will also purchase new blow molding equipment to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and packaging on-site. PET belongs to the polyester family of polymers used in things including fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods. This will enable a high-speed, fully integrated bottling system that will increase the company’s competitive advantage in the long term. It will also have significant greenhouse gas reduction and environmental benefits, as empty bottles do not have to be shipped from other sources, equaling 19,400 tonnes of reduced of CO2e emissions.

“With the investment from the Ontario Together Fund for our new production line and blow molding equipment to produce PET bottles and packaging, Dimachem will be able to produce 12 million bottles of Clorox’s Pine-Sol per year,” said Andrew Conway, Vice President, Dimachem Inc. “We are proud to be part of the province’s effort to increase domestic capacity in the fight against COVID-19.”

“At Clorox, our purpose is to champion people to be well and thrive every single day. With the localized production of Pine-Sol, we are able to further enhance our domestic production capabilities, while keeping up with the growing Canadian demand for effective disinfection solutions,” said Dave Iacobelli, President & GM, Clorox Canada. “As we battle through this pandemic together, we are proud to provide Canadians assurance around safety and wellness through our products.”

“With the new variants emerging and becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, we need all the proper sanitization resources to keep the public safe,” said Rick Nicholls, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “By providing this funding to Dimachem Inc. we are helping to protect people today and guard against outbreaks in the future.”

The government is delivering targeted investments through the $50 million Ontario Together Fund to help businesses retool or adopt the technological changes needed to produce supplies and equipment for the health care sector or organizations developing solutions for other critical public services.

Ontario has now committed an additional $50 million in the Ontario Together Fund in 2021-22 to support projects like this and allow local businesses to further enhance domestic supply chain capacity, while helping to support the safety and security of the people of Ontario.

Healthy people are essential for a healthy economy. With vaccines being distributed, hope is on the horizon. Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy provides the resources necessary to finish the battle with COVID-19, building on the government’s record investments to protect health and jobs during the global pandemic.

Quick Facts

• Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, brings total investments to $16.3 billion to protect people’s health and $23.3 billion to protect our economy. Ontario’s COVID-19 action plan support now totals $51 billion.
• Demand for for Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner-Disinfectant has increased significantly since it has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada for use to kill SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) on frequently used hard, non-porous surfaces.
• The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ Ontario Made program is helping the province’s manufacturing base regain and recover revenues lost due to COVID-19 by encouraging manufacturers and producers to register and promote their products on the SupportOntarioMade.ca site and use the Ontario Made logo. Ontario is investing $1 million more in 2021-22 to support the continuation of the Ontario Made program.
• Businesses and individuals looking to help in the fight against COVID-19 can submit their proposals through the Ontario Together portal.

SOURCE  Province of Ontario