A Swedish maker of high-tech bandages opened a $47 million manufacturing facility this week in Brunswick, the company’s second facility in Maine.
Molnlycke Health Care, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, produces self-adhesive, foam-based wound coverings that are comfortable and don’t irritate skin when removed.
The company, which employs about 7,400 people worldwide, first came to Maine through its 2010 acquisition of Wiscasset-based Rynel Inc., which makes medical-grade polyurethane foam.
Molnlycke said in a news release that it already has hired about 40 people in Maine to work at the 79,000-square-foot Brunswick facility, with plans to add more staff in the future.
The new manufacturing facility is at Brunswick Landing, the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, which was redeveloped for commercial use following its 2011 closure.
When fully operational, the facility will produce the company’s Mepilex and Mepilex Border wound-care products for the American market, using foam produced at the Wiscasset plant 20 miles away, the company said.
“Increasing our production capacity in America is one of the key elements of our strategy for sustainable expansion, and today’s opening reinforces our position as the No. 1 player in the American advanced wound-care market,” Molnlycke CEO Pierre Guyot said Tuesday in a written statement.
About 20 percent of the company’s total worldwide sales come from the U.S., Molnlycke officials said.
Guyot said having the two Maine facilities so close together will increase efficiency and security while making it possible to sell 100 percent American-made products in the U.S.
“Molnlycke Health Care has a long-term commitment to the state of Maine, including plans for further investment in the vicinity of our two existing factories,” Guyot said. “As we build our presence in the region, I hope to see the creation of a best-in-class (research and development) and innovation hub, where we can bring together our global expertise with the skills available locally.”
J. Craig Anderson can be contacted at 791-6390 or at:
canderson@pressherald.com
Twitter: @jcraiganderson
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