Drinks Association Associate Member Manildra is working closely with the Australian Government to provide ethanol to the health care and services industries during COVID-19.
The company is Australia’s leading producer of ethanol for food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and personal care, industrial applications and transport fuels – as part of its integrated production process at its Shoalhaven Starches site in Nowra, NSW.
It is now supplying World Health Organisation (WHO) formula liquid hand sanitiser in 20L drums and 1000L IBCs. With 80% ethanol as the active ingredient, this formulation is provided by the WHO to kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria on the hands fast.
Manildra has produced more than 4000 litres of hand sanitiser to supply schools, ambulance, fire and police stations, aged care facilities as well as medical professionals and pharmacies.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the government and industry were taking decisive action to safeguard vital supplies.
“I want to stress to Australians that we have the capacity and the raw ingredients here to continue to meet the increased demand,” she said.
“Industry, with the help of government, is stepping up to meet the challenges being thrown at us by this virus."
Manildra Group Managing Director John Honan added: "As the coronavirus situation evolves, as Australia’s leading producer of industrial grade ethanol, Manildra Group is committed to continuing to operate our manufacturing facilities around the clock to meet demand.
"As a family-owned Australian business we continue to locally produce ethanol, which is the major ingredient in hand sanitisers.
"We are committed to continuing to supply our ethanol to hand sanitiser and cleaning manufacturers.
"In line with our commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and business continuity, Manildra Group is also taking proactive measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), in accordance with government health agencies.
"Thank you for supporting Australian manufacturing."
CUB & Manildra help Ecolab produce sanitiser
Carlton & United Breweries is donating at least 20,000 litres of hand sanitiser to frontline medical staff as they fight COVID-19 in hospitals around the country.
The project has been launched to help doctors and nurses while hand sanitiser is in short supply. At least 40,000 500ml bottles are being produced for healthcare workers in hospitals in partnership with leading hygiene company Ecolab. CUB helped Ecolab source ethanol through Manildra.
CUB chief executive Peter Filipovic (above) told The Australian: "We introduced the ethanol producer Manildra Group to Ecolab, they will manufacture it and deliver it to who we direct it to be sent to.”
The first bottles are expected to start leaving Ecolab’s facilities this week.
Manildra helps solve flour shortage
Manildra is also working working closely with the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources to produce 100% Australian flour and bakery premixes to keep supermarket shelves and local bakeries stocked around Australia.
The company is "continuing to operate our manufacturing facilities around the clock to meet demand" said Honan.
A Woolworths spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald the rise in demand for flour has been partly because of panic buying but mostly because people are curious about baking as they look for ways to pass the time during home isolation.
Stores have experienced "an unprecedented level of demand", with searches for muffins and cookie recipes on their website seeing a 90% and 81% increase respectively in the past six weeks. Searches for "bread" are up 38%.
Manildra Group is a valued Associate Member of the Drinks Association.