A leading water treatment company is expanding the manufacture and distribution of its own brand of sanitiser with a new operation at Redditch, after commercial property agents John Truslove helped them find the right premises.
The coronavirus pandemic has seen a huge increase in demand for sanitiser and has led International Water Solutions Ltd to launch a new arm of its business – Mydis – focused on the production and supply of its own alcohol-free antibacterial sanitiser and a string of associated products.
Finance director Jeffrey Kinn said: “We are based in Essex and needed a more central distribution centre, in the Midlands. Redditch was ideal for our purposes.”
The company got in touch with property agents John Truslove and worked with joint managing director Ian Parker to identify the ideal base.
A spokesman said: “Ian was very helpful. Despite the challenges around Covid 19 he was able to show us several sites until we found the right one. Ian and the team have a wealth of experience and local knowledge which is very useful, and the whole process from start to finish was very quick.”
Mydis has taken 6,041 sq ft of space at 29 Crossgate Road, at the heart of the Park Farm industrial area in Redditch.
Mr Kinn added: “The unit is initially operating as a distribution centre, but we are looking to install some major production equipment over the coming months. When that happens, we will probably be looking to recruit locally.
“The sanitiser was initially just a sideline. Our main business at International Water Solutions Ltd is the production of Xziox, a biocidal disinfectant widely used in the agricultural industry in the UK, but the pandemic created a major opportunity for the business with an alcohol free sanitiser ready to go into large-scale production.
“It is kinder to the skin and tests at UKAS-accredited laboratories show it kills 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, including Covid 19. We also manufacture dispensers, ‘fogger’ sprayers that create a mist that disinfect large areas, as well as booths that disinfect people as they enter buildings.
“Our products are currently being used in hospitals, airport terminals, on board planes and trains and even in churches.
“It has meant exponential growth in the size of our business over the last few months. This virus is clearly going to be with us for some time to come. It is the ‘new normal’ and we have adapted our business to meet this challenge.”
Ian Parker of John Truslove negotiated a three year lease for the Crossgate Road unit on behalf of landlords Paloma Capital.
He said: “The Park Farm area of Redditch provides an ideal base for any business seeking to establish a distribution centre to give itself nationwide reach.
“Here at John Truslove we have unrivalled knowledge of the local commercial property market, so we were in an excellent position to provide Mydis with assistance in finding the premises that would best suit their needs.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the company as it increases its operations in the area.”
MyDis and International Water Solutions Ltd were advised by CMS Law. Paloma Capital were advised by Greenberg Trauring LLP.
