The Ontario government is providing Virox Technologies Inc. with $850,000 from the Ontario Together Fund to help the local manufacturer double its production of disinfectants and create jobs. The investment will assist in keeping people, frontline workers and communities safe and stop the spread of COVID-19. Virox is the first manufacturer to receive money from the Ontario Together Fund.
The announcement was made today by Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“We are looking for the best and brightest in the province to step up and provide critical goods and services in our effort to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Minister Fedeli. “I am pleased to see an innovative disinfectant company like Virox Technologies come forward and use its made-in-Ontario advanced technology to help keep our frontline workers and communities safe.”
Virox is planning to install a high-speed manufacturing assembly line to ramp up production of its Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide products. It is estimated that the new equipment will allow the company to produce 6,000 cases per day, which will help meet increased demand from the health care sector and general consumer market during the outbreak. The project will create 20 full- and part-time jobs and help retain 120 positions in Oakville.
“We are pleased to respond to the government’s call to action to help stop the spread of this outbreak,” said Randy Pilon, President and CEO, Virox Technologies Inc. “We pride ourselves on offering sustainable hydrogen-peroxide based disinfecting solutions and making products that are safe for people, animals and the planet. By ramping up our production with new equipment and upgrades, we will help meet the growing need in hospitals, and communities across Ontario and Canada.”
On March 21 Premier Doug Ford launched the Ontario Together web portal appealing to Ontario’s manufacturers, entrepreneurs and innovators to provide essential supplies and equipment to support front line workers in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
To support the development of proposals submitted by businesses and individuals through the Ontario Together web portal and help businesses retool their operations, the government launched the $50 million Ontario Together Fund. All submissions received through the portal are being reviewed and prioritized to focus on solutions that can respond to where the need is greatest and can be implemented quickly.
