Medline Opens New ReadyBath Production Facility

MUNDELEIN, Ill. -- Medline Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, recently opened a new manufacturing facility to produce pre-moistened bathing and cleaning products, including its fast-growing ReadyBath ready-to-use disposable bathing system. Located in Waukegan, Ill., the new 145,000-square-foot structure includes state-of- the-art manufacturing capabilities. This is Medline's sixth manufacturing facility located in North America.

Wet wipes, pre-moistened disposable washcloths, are among Medline's fastest growing product lines. In just three years, ReadyBath has grown into the second largest selling disposable bathing product system in the U.S.

In addition to producing ReadyBath and incontinent and baby wipe products, Medline has plans to expand into other wet wipe products in the near future, to be manufactured at the new facility.

"We're very excited about this new facility and our expanded capability to produce quality products and deliver them direct to our customers," said Tom Gregory, president of Medline's ReadyCare division. "Ready-to-use cleaning products are one of the fastest growing categories in health care. This makes the future look very bright for us in this product line."

The facility currently has two shifts and employs 40 people. A third shift is planned by the end of year.

The ReadyBath bathing system is economical, ready-to-use, pH balanced, hypoallergenic and formulated to help protect and heal damaged skin. As an all-in-one system, ReadyBath products are designed to save valuable nursing time while reducing facility costs associated with linens, soaps, basins and other costly items.

Opening of the new manufacturing facility comes on the heels of another successful year for Medline, which saw sales increase 17 percent to more than $1.45 billion in 2002. Other signs of Medline's growth include the opening of another new state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly facility in July in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The 217,525 square-foot building will produce surgical procedure trays (SPT) and E*Kits (efficiency kits or sterile minor procedure trays).

Also, the company is currently undergoing major expansions at its distribution centers in Durham, N.C. and San Antonio, Texas. Medline now has 27 distribution centers throughout the U.S.

Source: Medline Industries, Inc.