WINNIPEG - Medical device manufacturer Precision ADM has acquired Roswell Downhole Technologies Canada's largest producer of meltblown fabric for medical filtration applications. Together, the companies aim to manufacture Canada’s first supply of 100% compostable nonwoven fabrics using sustainably sourced biopolymers for use in personal protective equipment (PPE) production domestically and for export to global manufacturers.
By October 2021, the two companies will be operating a high-volume, automation-driven, nonwoven manufacturing plant in Calgary, Alberta, and scaling up a manufacturing plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. These plants will produce a full suite of compostable surgical medical masks, gowns, and other necessary medical PPE, air and water filtration products, and personal hygiene products.
The investment will create up to 350 high paid net new direct jobs in the Prairie region and will have the capacity to supply compostable, nonwoven fabric for other domestic and international manufacturers, representing a net new economic export impact of approximately US$2billion within the next ten years.
“As a company, we have responded to COVID-19 by developing and manufacturing the highest quality and most cost-effective medical equipment in our country’s time of need,” said Martin Petrak, chief executive officer of Precision ADM. “By coming together with Roswell DHT to develop cutting-edge, 100% compostable medical PPE such as masks and respirators, we will better serve Canada and emerge even stronger beyond the pandemic while reducing our carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout our product life cycle.”
“Precision ADM has a horizon of projects that are complimented by Roswell’s nonwoven technologies, specifically the compostable media that we have been developing over the last year,” added Kyle Fiolka, president of Roswell DHT. “This synergy will further strengthen and support our shared vision for innovation and pave the way in building a fully integrated, secure, domestic, and most importantly green supply chain for PPE.”
Roswell is currently operating at a capacity of 58 metric tonnes per month output of meltblown filter media. To date there have been approximately 160 million masks produced in Canada with Roswell’s nonwoven fabric.
