CRP/VWR Form Strategic Alliance

By John Haystead

Clean Room Products, Inc. (CRP) of Ronkonkoma, NY has granted VWR Scientific Products Corp.(West Chester, PA), exclusive marketing rights to its line of Ultraclean Film (TM) products. CRP manufactures custom storage bags from the film in Class 10 cleanrooms for use in electronic, pharmaceutical, biotech and other highly contamination-sensitive applications. According to CRP President, Paul Gerber, “the deal gives us access to VWR`s phenomenal global network as well as an additional 125 salespeople specifically selling into controlled environments.”

Although perhaps better known today as a “cleanroom” company, CRP was actually originally founded in 1964 as a packaging company. One of its first contracts was with NASA to manufacture contamination-free bags to carry spare parts for the lunar excursion module (LEM), as well as carry back lunar soil samples. Now, the company supplies NASA with bags for use on the space shuttle. According to Gerber, CRP`s film business still represents a significant percentage of the company`s business.

The new marketing deal with VWR is part of a larger strategic alliance between the two companies that will extend to joint marketing and sales efforts for each firm`s primary product lines. VWR will now sell CRP`s softwall cleanrooms and laminar flow devices, while CRP will help VWR sell its line of consumables to its cleanroom customers. Says Gerber, the arrangement is structured “to help each company mutually expand its horizons.”