Medicom inaugurates its new glove factory : ManiKHeir

Medicom is proud to announce the inauguration of its new nitrile glove factory: ManiKHeir, based in Bessé-sur-Braye, Sarthe.

The inauguration took place on 18 April, in the presence of France's Minister for Industry, Roland Lescure, the President of the Regional Council, Christelle Morançais, our Chairman and CEO, Guillaume Laverdure, and our customers and partners.

The creation of ManiKHeir marks the return of an industry that has been absent from France for 30 years!

In response to Europe's dependence on nitrile glove imports, as revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Medicom has decided to produce locally in order to safeguard the country's healthcare system and vital industries. ManiKHeir, located on the site of the former Arjowiggins factory, is France's first single-use nitrile glove factory.

The project, entrusted to GSE, required an investment of over €88 million to renovate and develop this brownfield site. Today, the 17,521 m2 site boasts 4 state-of-the-art production lines, with the potential to produce 900 million gloves a year. Since June 2022, more than 150 employees have been recruited to contribute to the success of this new plant.

Gerald Heuliez, Managing Director of ManiKHeir and Vice President Global Strategic Relations & Business Development, stresses the importance of innovation in this project, particularly in terms of sustainable development. With an integrated R&D laboratory, the company is focusing on the quality of its products, the performance of its teams and its commitment to its customers and partners.

A strong environmental commitment

In line with the principles of ISO 26000, ManiKHeir takes an environmentally responsible approach, producing nitrile gloves without chlorine or accelerating agents, which are harmful to the environment and health.

In addition, an integrated water treatment centre reduces water consumption and limits the risk of pollution. Industrial waste is recycled and Medicom is currently working on a process for recovering used finished products from users.

Our nitrile gloves are made from recyclable nitrile rubber (NBR), a less allergenic and more environmentally friendly alternative to latex.

With this new plant, Medicom is committed to providing high-quality, French-made, environmentally-friendly nitrile gloves that meet the growing needs of the European market for personal protective equipment.