July 9, 2007 — /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — MENTOR, OH — STERIS Corporation today announced that Tetra Pak, a world leader in food processing and packaging solutions, has selected the company as a strategic global supplier for the provision of sterilization systems on a Tetra Pak beverage filling platform currently in the final stage of development.
The selection follows several years of joint development between the companies resulting in the creation of a unique aseptic beverage filling platform that uses a proprietary STERIS vapor sterilization system and represents an advancement over traditional packaging sterilization methods. The new sterilization system provides a technology that permits continuous optimization of this core process and contributes to improved capacity and flexibility on Tetra Pak’s next filling platform.
Commenting on the selection, Les C. Vinney, president and chief executive officer of STERIS, said, “Tetra Pak’s selection of STERIS as a strategic global supplier is expected to represent the first commercial success of scale for our Defense and Industrial business unit under the leadership of our life sciences group president Gerry Reis, and is validation of the potential for our technology in entirely new industries. It is very rewarding to see many years of development and investment place us in a position to create a significant new revenue stream for the company in an industry similar in scale to those we currently serve. The full benefit of this collaboration, while not materially impacting the current fiscal year, is expected to be realized in the coming years as we build upon our strategic supply relationship with Tetra Pak.”
Michael Grosse, executive vice president, development and engineering, Tetra Pak, said, “This joint development between STERIS, world leader in vapor sterilization technology, and Tetra Pak, world leader in aseptic technology, will enable us to provide our beverage customers with a unique, highly robust, cost-effective packaging solution.”
Tetra Pak is the world leader in aseptic carton packaging solutions for ambient liquid dairy, juices, nectars and still drink products, a market which is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 5% in the coming years. Tetra Pak has approximately 9,000 packaging machines in operation worldwide. In 2006, Tetra Pak reported revenues of 8.5 billion euros (U.S. $11.4 billion), sold approximately 700 packaging machines, and produced more than 129 billion packages from its installed base of equipment.
About STERIS
The mission of STERIS Corporation is to provide a healthier today and safer tomorrow through knowledgeable people and innovative infection prevention, decontamination and health science technologies, products, and services. The company’s more than 5,000 dedicated employees around the world work together to supply a broad array of solutions by offering a combination of equipment, consumables, and services to healthcare, pharmaceutical, industrial, and government customers. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol STE. For more information, visit http://www.steris.com/.
About Tetra Pak
As a world leading company in food processing and packaging, Tetra Pak’s motto “protects what’s good” (TM) reflects the philosophy upon which the company conducts business in order to make food safe and available, everywhere. Operating in more than 165 markets with over 20,000 employees, Tetra Pak believes in responsible industry leadership, creating profitable growth in harmony with good corporate citizenship, and a sustainable approach to business.
Tetra Pak works closely with its suppliers and customers on preferred processing and packaging solutions to provide convenient, innovative and environmentally sound products to millions of people worldwide. More information about Tetra Pak is available at http://www.tetrapak.com/
Source: STERIS Corporation
Contact:
Aidan Gormley, senior director,
corporate communications and investor relations, STERIS Corporation
Tel: 440-392-7607
Linda Bernier, director,
corporate public relations, Tetra Pak
Tel: +39-348-145-4229