Ecolab Announces Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Belimed

February 24, 2010

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ecolab Inc. today announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Belimed Inc. to provide optimized cleaning solutions for hospital sterile processing departments.

Until now, Belimed has supplied both cleaning solutions and equipment to meet the instrument reprocessing needs of its customers. Going forward, Belimed will focus on equipment, and Ecolab will be the preferred cleaning solutions supplier. Ecolab will begin supplying Belimed's existing cleaning supply customers immediately and will be the recommended supplier for Belimed's future equipment installations.

"By pairing Ecolab's expertise in quality cleaning solutions with Belimed's expertise in designing instrument reprocessing and disinfection equipment, we are providing customers a best-in-class approach to deliver outstanding cleaning results," said Paul Chaffin, vice president and general manager of Ecolab Healthcare North America.

"This is an exciting cooperation between two leading companies in their respective healthcare markets," said Joe McDonald, president and CEO of Belimed US. "This collaboration will combine innovative products with a focus on complete customer confidence to provide integrated solutions, service and support."

Hospitals depend on sterile processing departments to supply sterile instruments, linen packs, dressings and other sterile items used in patient care. These departments are important to infection control as they clean, disinfect and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment.

About Ecolab
With sales of $6 billion and more than 26,000 associates, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention products and services. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to foodservice, food and beverage processing, healthcare, and hospitality markets in more than 160 countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com.

About Belimed
Belimed Inc. is a world leader in infection control, specializing in cleaning, disinfection and sterilization. A division of Metal-Zug, a Swiss company with an annual sales volume of $800 million and more than 3,000 employees, Belimed Inc. has been providing state-of the-art products in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and laboratory sectors worldwide for over 30 years.

(ECL-C)

SOURCE: Ecolab Inc.

Ecolab Inc.
Jennifer Kirscher, 651-293-2846

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