Joint venture launches groundbreaking gamma sterilization facility

Mexico City

Griffith Micro Science (Oak Brook, IL) and MDS Nordion Inc. (Kanata, Ontario) have announced the creation of NGS Enterprises, a joint venture to build a new gamma processing facility in the Mexico City area. Griffith Micro Science, the creator of Eto sterilization management, and Nordion, specializing in gamma technology and Cobalt-60 production, have designed the new facility to meet the demands of planned growth in food irradiation. In fact, Nordion`s participation represents “an endorsement of growth in food irradiation, ” says a company official. “We see food processing generating significant growth for both our organizations well into the next century,” commented Frank Fraser, vice president, market development of MDS Nordion. “We are excited about the food irradiation process to control foodborne disease, to disinfest, and also to preserve fruits and vegetables, and extend shelf life.”

“Our combined vision is to grow opportunities in food preservation and disinfestation applications, while providing capacity for existing sterilization of medical products,” said Joe Maslick, executive vice president of Griffith Laboratories, parent corporation of Griffith Micro Science. Groundbreaking is scheduled for January, 1998, and the facility is expected to be ready for operation by next September. — SES