An Ontario Supply Chain Success

Companies Collaborate to Locally Produce Essential Pandemic Product

High demand and short supply of essential pandemic products on a global basis has led to 
marketplace of innovation and collaboration. In its support of provincial efforts to procure personal protective equipment (PPE), Mohawk Medbuy’s sourcing team is dedicated to uniting complementary suppliers to address critical needs.

As part of the national effort to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited and the Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery in Windsor, Ontario announced that they would be donating alcohol for use in producing hand sanitizer. The 100,000 litres of raw alcohol they provided – an essential ingredient in much needed hand sanitizers – prompted Mohawk Medbuy to seek out a partner who could turn it into usable product for the health sector.

The national shared services organization connected the dots, contacting Progressive Industrial Fluids (PIF), a company that had recently pivoted from making industrial lubricants for manufacturers to hand sanitizer. They had the additives to transform Hiram Walker’s alcohol into a gel and the capability to bottle it in containers with hand pumps for use in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

“Mohawk Medbuy reached out to us to see if there was something we could do with the product,” said Darren Chambers, President & CEO at PIF. “We set up a packaging line, sourced the bottles, and did everything that would normally take three months in 10 to 12 days.”

From the donated alcohol, 153,000 bottles of hand sanitizer have been produced, with the first batch of finished product coming off the line in late May.

"Corby and Hiram Walker are proud to support the efforts of the Canadian and Ontario governments and communities across the country in fighting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Patrick O'Driscoll, Chief Executive Officer of Corby and Hiram Walker. "In times like this, it is important that everyone, especially companies with strong Canadian roots, like ours, prioritize good corporate citizenship and step up in the name of the greater good.”

The ability to resolve critical problems is spawning new innovative techniques and cohesive partnerships. Never has this been more evident than in the face of the pandemic.

“There were lots of moving parts in getting this product to the hospitals,” said Karen Noble, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Mohawk Medbuy. “The flexibility PIF showed in meeting our clinical requirements and producing such a large quantity in a short amount of time was invaluable.”

Mohawk Medbuy continues to recognize and support the agility of both small and large manufacturers as they step up to the plate in the midst of COVID-19.

“Where there are challenges, there are opportunities for innovation,” said Tony DiEmanuele, President and CEO of Mohawk Medbuy. “These companies were looking for ways to help, and I’m proud of our Sourcing Team for making the connections to facilitate and orchestrate this productive collaboration. “