Messer Switzerland opens most modern filling plant for medical oxygen
Messer Schweiz AG continues to expand and invest in the home care sector: on March 13, Switzerland's most modern filling plant for medical oxygen was opened in Lenzburg.
Messer Schweiz AG, one of Switzerland's leading industrial gases companies, is opening the most modern Swiss filling plant for liquid medical oxygen in Lenzburg. By concentrating on one building, the entire handling process is significantly simplified and patient safety is increased. Construction of the new filling plant took just eight months. Almost one million Swiss francs were invested in the most modern filling plant in Switzerland. Thanks to the good cooperation with the town of Lenzburg, this ambitious expansion was possible. "We would like to thank the authorities for their constructive and efficient cooperation," says Dr. Hans Michael Kellner, CEO Messer Schweiz AG.
Centralization makes everything easier
Until now, maintenance, filling and storage of the stationary and mobile containers for liquid medical oxygen were carried out at different locations, which was not very efficient from a logistical point of view. Centralization primarily enables simpler handling. The entire handling process, from delivery to cleaning, maintenance, filling, final inspection and delivery of the containers, takes place in a 400 m2 facility. All containers as well as all required spare parts are also stored there. From now on, full stationary containers will be delivered to the patients and the empty ones will be taken away. This replaces the old delivery system, where the containers were filled on site at the patient. This change significantly increases patient safety, as the containers are cleaned each time they are changed and additional, elaborate quality controls are possible.
At the service of patients
Messer Switzerland supplies patients who require permanent oxygen with containers of liquid oxygen. In this way, the company is helping to ensure that patients can be independent and mobile, which significantly improves their quality of life. Patients can refill the portable containers independently at the stationary container at any time. This enables patients to be mobile outside their own homes. They can go for walks, go shopping, meet up with acquaintances or friends and thus move around freely. In a standard container with 45 liters of liquid oxygen, more than 38,000 liters of gaseous oxygen are available to the patient. By comparison, a 10-liter steel cylinder at 200 bar contains 2,100 liters of gaseous oxygen. The use of liquid medical oxygen significantly increases the security of supply for patients.
Where does the oxygen come from?
Oxygen is obtained from the air. The proportion of oxygen in the air is approx. 21 %. The colorless, odorless and tasteless but also fire-promoting gas is cooled down to -183 °C and thus liquefied. Since one liter of liquid oxygen is equivalent to about 853 liters of gaseous oxygen, much larger quantities can be stored and transported.
