By Charlotte Boynton
Molnlycke Health Care held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 32,000 square foot expansion to its existing building in Wiscasset, May 2. Mark Dignum, site director for both the Molnlycke Manufacturing facilities in Maine, the Wiscasset site and the Brunswick site, hosted the ceremony.
Participants of Molnlycke’s ground breaking ceremony, held at the Twin Rivers Drive facility in Wiscasset May 2, include left to right: Mark Donovan, Misty Parker, Judy Colby, Fred Libby, Mark Dignum, Dirk Thompson, Dan Ellingson, Evan Thompson, Lisa Letterman, Mark Page, James Starmont, and Joe Giampetro. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
Buy this photo |
Honored guests included Wiscasset Selectman Judy Colby, Wiscasset Town Planner Misty Parker, representatives from project contractor, PC Construction, Harriman Architects, the new landlord of the property, Dirk Thomas, as well as many Molnlycke officials.
After his welcoming remarks Dignum recognized the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen and the citizens of the town. “We take seriously our relationship with all of the communities in which we work and the support and cooperation of the town played a key role in Molnlycke’s decision to expand this facility,” he said.
The Brunswick site, location of the company’s new manufacturing building, was also considered for the expansion.
“It is significant marker in our company’s commitment to the United States that brought to Maine, one of the most advanced wound dressing manufacturing facilities anywhere in the world.” Dignum said.
 |
Wiscasset Selectman Judy Colby presents Mark Dignum, site director for Molnlycke’s two facilities in Maine, with a plaque on behalf of the board of selectmen in appreciation of the company’s selection of Wiscasset to built their expansion. (Charlotte Boynton photo) |
Buy this photo |
New landlord Dirk Thomas said he purchased the land because he liked Molnlycke, “I like what they make,” he said. “They are a quality company with quality employees; a quality company that will create good jobs, that is what Maine needs and wants, Most of all they are a company with a vision that looks to the future.”
The world’s leading manufacturer of surgical and wound care products, Molnlycke Health Care employs 7400 people in nine countries worldwide. The company is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Molnlycke’s first investment in a manufacturing facility in the United States was the purchase of Rynel in 2010. Recently the company invested about $50 million in a new manufacturing facility in Brunswick, according to Dignum and purchased Brennan Medical Burn LLC, a St. Paul, Minn. company that specialized in the treatment of severe burns.
The expansion of the Wiscasset site will allow Molnlycke to move the Brennen operation to Maine. The new facility will employ about 10 employees to start with and later employ up to 30.
Rynel has been in Wiscasset since 2005, and was known for manufacturing hydrophobic polyurethane forms used for wound care and medical products.
On Jan. 12 Wiscasset voters approved revisions to a tax-increment financing or TIF agreement that was created in 2004 for Rynel and extends the term of the TIF from 20 years to 30 years.
According to PC Construction representative Evan Thompson, the contractor expects to turn the new expansion over to Molnlycke in January 2015.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony the guests were invited to attend a celebratory cook out at the facility.
