Mölnlycke Health Care, which plans a major expansion of its Brunswick Landing factory, makes a range of wound-care products.
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Global medical products manufacturer Mölnlycke Health Care walks the talk when it comes to sustainability by executing a relatively simple premise — locating its factories close to its customers.
The 176-year-old company is based in Gothenburg, Sweden, and operates nine factories in more than a dozen countries around the globe. But its two factories in Maine — in Wiscasset and Brunswick — are where it produces a majority of its wound-care products for its rapidly growing U.S. market, which generates 30% of the company’s $2.3 billion in annual sales.
Hospitals and acute care facilities in the U.S. are the company’s top customers. Some of their post-op dressings are sold at CVS and Walgreens stores.
Mölnlycke’s base in Maine is strong, with MaineHealth being a long-time customer. Strong enough, in fact, to spur a $135 million addition to the existing Brunswick Landing factory, with the groundbreaking in September.
Mölnlycke has 270 Maine employees and plans to add another 20 to 30 once the expansion is completed in 2027.
The Maine factories make 12 different products.
Wiscasset produces much of the raw materials — foam padding and other textiles — which are then incorporated into finished products in Brunswick.
The bandages, in various sizes and shapes, feature advanced adhesives engineered to protect wounds while preserving delicate tissue — critical for elderly and diabetic patients.
Wiscasset is the only Mölnlycke facility worldwide that manufactures the patented Z-Flo Fluidized Positioners — highly flexible cushions that ease pressure points. When used for premature infants, the cushion can simulate a womb-like experience, the company says.
Chris Kennedy, who heads up sales for North America and Latin America, says physicians and patients repeatedly tell him the products dramatically speed healing, ease patient discomfort and often eliminate the need for further treatment and costly equipment such as home hospital beds.
“Globally there are rising numbers of chronic issues and clinicians are stretched thin,” adds Anders Andersson, executive vice president for Mölnlycke wound care products. “Our mission is to free patients and caregivers from the strains of wound care and restore dignity for our patients.”
True to its core value of reducing its environmental impact, the company keeps its carbon footprint in check by sourcing machinery and technical equipment from U.S. companies and is committed to using 100% renewable energy at its plants. The new addition in Brunswick will generate electricity by utilizing both solar and wind power.
“We’re investing in the future of health care,” Andersson says. “This is a new chapter in our journey to bring wound care closer to those who need it most.”
