A Healing Experience Mölnlycke

A HEALING EXPERIENCE

Mölnlycke is a world-leading manufacturer of wound care and singleuse surgical products and a major service provider to the healthcare sector. In response to increased demand for its advanced solutions, the company is expanding its global operations.

Originally founded in 1849 as a textile company in Gothenburg, Sweden, today Mölnlycke is a global healthcare solutions provider with 17 modern manufacturing plants in Europe, the United States and Asia. The company’s products can be found in over 100 countries worldwide.

Although a global company, its headquarters continue to be in Gothenburg – just a short distance from the town of Mölnlycke, the place where the company was founded in 1849 and the origin of the Mölnlycke name.

The company is a healthcare products pioneer. It was in the 1940s that Mölnlycke first entered the field for which it is now so highly regarded throughout the world – that of wound care products. Since then, Mölnlycke has introduced a range of revolutionary products and that focus on innovations is what keeps the company at the forefront today.

The company’s core business lies in two areas: Wound Care and Surgical Solutions. In Wound Care, Mölnlycke has a portfolio of solutions designed to help wounds heal effectively and efficiently. Over the coming years, the company plans to expand its focus on key therapy areas, such as pressure ulcers and skin tears, and develop existing and new product platforms based on customer needs.

In the Surgical Solutions initiatives, the key drivers for growth are the global focus on staff protection and infection prevention, and improving healthcare economics to meet the customer need for increased efficiency in the operating room. The portfolio includes surgical gloves, masks, gowns, antiseptics and many others.

Asia Expansion

Given last year’s unprecedented developments and the skyrocketing rise in the need for medical solutions, the company has invested in further business growth. In early 2021, Mölnlycke saw the start of construction of its new surgical glove factory in Malaysia, increasing its manufacturing capacity to ensure that it can continue to satisfy the growing demand for Biogel® gloves.

Malaysia is the home of Mölnlycke’s surgical glove business. The company currently has four manufacturing plants. In recognition of the company’s long-term ambitions for Biogel, one of the plants will be relocating to a new site with a built-on area of 31,000m2, increasing total glove manufacturing capacity by 60%

The first gloves are expected to roll off the lines in May 2022. When fully operational, the new factory is expected to employ some 800 Mölnlycke employees, who will benefit from the high standard of working conditions at Mölnlycke.

In addition to production lines, the plant will include a 4,000 m2 office building, housing R&D offices for Biogel gloves, several laboratories, the APAC IT service desk, a cafeteria and other facilities.

JC Guillou, General Manager of Mölnlycke Health Care Sdn. Bhd., commented: “This is a great milestone for Mölnlycke Health Care Sdn Bhd. This significant investment shows the board’s support for, and confidence in the future of the gloves franchise business and in our execution capability. This new plant will show Mölnlycke as a modern, responsible and attractive company and help retain and attract new talent. This is more than ever a great time to be part of the Mölnlycke family.”

Solid platform

Unlike many companies decimated by last year’s pandemic restrictions across various industries, Mölnlycke achieved strong organic sales growth in 2020, as documented in its recently published Annual Report. This was partly through supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the company also welcomed its new CEO Zlatko Rihter, launched its innovative Advance® Solo battery-powered single-use negative pressure wound therapy solution, and opened a new UK distribution centre, strengthening customer access to quality Mölnlycke products via a new, more robust supply chain solution delivering environmental benefits.

Mr Rihter summarises last year’s developments: “2020 was dominated by Covid-19. To provide healthcare professionals and patients with vital face masks, isolation gowns and other protection, Mölnlycke employees worked around the clock, supported by our network of contract manufacturers and raw materials suppliers. In spite of Covid-19, our base business grew year on year and we managed to keep close to customers by engaging digitally and offering professional training online.”

“We continued to invest in people, processes and documentation to make sure our business is fit for the future. We developed our commercial capabilities in both new and traditional markets and overhauled our product lifecycle management tool.”

He affirmed that with the pandemic expected to recede during 2021, the company will slowly move towards a new normal, with the ambition to grow by increasing sales of bordered foams, trays and single-pack staff clothing and protection.

“2020 has seen us strengthen our relationships with all our stakeholders. These relationships, coupled with our product portfolio, pipeline planning and internal investments, give us a solid platform for the future.” n