Mercedes F1 partner joins global fight

INEOS, the principal partner to the Mercedes Formula 1 team, has vowed to play its part in the global fight against the coronavirus by mass-producing hand sanitiser.

The company is already the leading European producer of the two key raw materials needed for sanitisers in isopropyl alcohol and ethanol.

Given the critical shortage of hand sanitiser across Europe, INEOS has vowed to build a plant near Middlesbrough in just 10 days to produce one million bottles per month, and is to replicate this at an additional site in Germany.

It will then make its hand sanitiser free to hospitals, as well as producing the pocket bottles for personal use for people across the UK and Europe.

Founder and chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: "It is becoming increasingly clear that hand-to-mouth infection is a significant cause of coronavirus contagion and INEOS is Europe’s largest manufacturer of the core ingredient of hand sanitiser.

"We will build two factories in the UK and Germany in 10 days to produce very substantial supplies.

“INEOS is a company with enormous resources and manufacturing skills. If we can find other ways to help in the coronavirus battle, we are absolutely committed to playing our part."

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