About Us

Shield Medicare - a division of Ecolab - is a market leader in the supply of specialist contamination control products to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare and medical device industries worldwide.

The Company was started in 1990 to provide specialist products for life science cleanrooms. We have grown consistently year on year, increasing our customer base and widening the range of products offered, through award-winning innovations and customer-led design.

In 2006 Shield Medicare was purchased by Ecolab to become the Centre of Excellence for Contamination Control. Ecolab is the leading global developer and marketer of premium cleaning, sanitising, pest elimination, maintenance and repair products for the hospitality, food service, healthcare and industrial markets. Ecolab achieved global sales in excess of $5 billion in 2006. (www.ecolab.com)

Investment from Ecolab enabled ambitious plans for a new purpose-built state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Wales to be realised. Find out more >>

• With 15 years experience of high quality manufacturing in cleanrooms to cGMP standards, we fully understand the needs and concerns of our customers. We specialise in meeting the requirements of pharmaceutical and medical cleanrooms, whose needs are often very different from those of electronics cleanrooms.
• We offer technical expertise, extensive processing capability and a well-deserved reputation for innovation, proven by awards from the cleanroom industry.
• We operate several Grade B and C cleanrooms at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Wales. The facilities are continually expanding and upgrading to meet the latest GMP recommendations and maintain the highest possible standards of manufacture. Modern production scheduling systems ensure efficient stock control, enabling fast delivery times.

• Shield Medicare has been awarded BS EN ISO 9001:2000 and BS EN ISO 13485:2003 and we hold the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC for the design, manufacture and distribution of sterile and non-sterile cleanroom products. Our processes and systems are regularly audited, both internally and externally.
• We keep abreast of new legislation and regulations and we are committed to taking our disinfectant range through the Biocidal Product Directive.
• Our sterile manufacturing facilities are regularly audited by the major pharmaceutical companies worldwide, who themselves hold GMP accreditation, as well as by the UK National Health Service and private hospitals. Any customer is welcome to visit the facilities to carry out a supplier audit.

• We have specialist testing and quality laboratories, operating to the principles of Good Laboratory Practice. As well as testing and evaluating every stage of the production cycle, we can offer in-house validation testing to customers.
• We assist customers with their own validation processes through the supply of comprehensive technical information, including both in-house and independent test data. Confidentiality, expertise and high levels of technical support are available throughout all stages of the specification and validation process.
• The product range is available worldwide through a network of carefully appointed distributors, who also have access to our technical support and expertise.

Although life science cleanrooms are required to operate to GMP and maintain specific microbiological and particulate limits according to the grade of cleanroom, there is little advice on how this should be achieved.

Shield Medicare is able to give customers the benefit of its experience of manufacturing in cleanrooms and can advise on many aspects of contamination control, through confidential consultation, technical support and the supply of helpful articles and documents.

One thing stated very clearly by GMP is that

"Disinfectants used in Grade A and B areas should be sterile prior to use".*

Shield Medicare offers Klercide - the widest available range of disinfectants including sterile alcohols with highest specification (EP) Water for Injection, suitable for Grade A and B areas. Our trigger spray products are all protected against in-use contamination by the patented SteriShield Delivery System. Find out more >>

GMP also states that

"The transfer of materials into and out of the unit is one of the greatest potential sources of contamination".*

Research has shown that spraying and wiping is the most effective method of removing bioburden during the transfer process, especially for the removal of spores. We offer Klerwipe - a wide range of sterile low particulate dry and impregnated wipes. We also offer Klerpack - a unique range of cleanroom consumables multi-packed in polythene to reduce paper and improve the transfer process.

We regularly give technical presentations and can offer a range of helpful technical articles. Please contact us for information or advice regarding your cleanroom application.

* Eudralex Vol 4 Good Manufacturing Practice, Annex 1: "Manufacture of sterile medicinal products"