A U.S.-based company that specializes in technology that kills viruses, bacteria and mould in the air has chosen Guelph to become the home of its Canadian headquarters.
After a three-month evaluation process, the company, Synexis Canada Limited, officially announced its plans during a news conference at city hall.
“We’ll be fully installed in Guelph by the end of the first quarter,” said Synexis Canada chief executive officer and director Eric Schlote.
The company specializes in Synexis Biodefense Systems, air-purification systems which use dry hydrogen peroxide to continuously disinfect the air and surfaces in indoor spaces.
“We can put it into the existing HVAC system or we have a stand-alone system,” Schlote said, explaining the patented technology.
“We’re highly effective in fighting influenza,” he said.
The systems have potential for health-care and long-term-care settings, where there is an obvious desire to prevent the spread of infections, but they are also being marketed to work places, community facilities, food operation facilities and more.
“The challenge is staying focused, because there are a lot of opportunities to use this technology,” said Schlote. “Everybody is trying to find ways to not only increase productivity, but also to provide a cleaner environment.”
In Guelph, the technology is already being put to work in the Elliot Community long-term-care facility, he said.
Schlote said there were multiple reasons for deciding to set up headquarters in Guelph, including support from the city’s leadership team and the proximity to the University of Guelph, which he called “a world-class research and development centre.”
The business environment here is what we were looking for,” Schlote said.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie welcomed the company to the city, noting that Synexis is the sort of “clean tech” and “civic tech” business that the city wants to see thrive here.
“Your technology can help with government buildings, hospitals and other large areas,” he said. “That is exactly the type of technology . . . that we are looking for here in this city.”
Initially, the company will be based in an interim office at 111 Farquhar St., with plans to have more permanent, fully operational headquarters in Guelph by the end of March 2017.
Schlote said there is an immediate need for about 10 employees in Guelph, with jobs spread across sales, sales support, research and development and general office support.
The Guelph office will be managing the Synexis expansion across the Canadian market and beyond into markets in Asia, Schlote said.
“The strategy is to support international business out of here,” he said.
Currently, the company is based in Kansas City and does manufacturing in Vermont, but there may be potential to expand into manufacturing in Canada, as well, he said.
Guelph was chosen for the headquarters over five other competing cities in three provinces, a news release said.
Factors taken into account in the decision included business culture, community leadership, logistical accessibility, overhead costs and potential local research partnerships, it said.
After a three-month evaluation process, the company, Synexis Canada Limited, officially announced its plans during a news conference at city hall.
“We’ll be fully installed in Guelph by the end of the first quarter,” said Synexis Canada chief executive officer and director Eric Schlote.
The company specializes in Synexis Biodefense Systems, air-purification systems which use dry hydrogen peroxide to continuously disinfect the air and surfaces in indoor spaces.
“We can put it into the existing HVAC system or we have a stand-alone system,” Schlote said, explaining the patented technology.
“We’re highly effective in fighting influenza,” he said.
The systems have potential for health-care and long-term-care settings, where there is an obvious desire to prevent the spread of infections, but they are also being marketed to work places, community facilities, food operation facilities and more.
“The challenge is staying focused, because there are a lot of opportunities to use this technology,” said Schlote. “Everybody is trying to find ways to not only increase productivity, but also to provide a cleaner environment.”
In Guelph, the technology is already being put to work in the Elliot Community long-term-care facility, he said.
Schlote said there were multiple reasons for deciding to set up headquarters in Guelph, including support from the city’s leadership team and the proximity to the University of Guelph, which he called “a world-class research and development centre.”
The business environment here is what we were looking for,” Schlote said.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie welcomed the company to the city, noting that Synexis is the sort of “clean tech” and “civic tech” business that the city wants to see thrive here.
“Your technology can help with government buildings, hospitals and other large areas,” he said. “That is exactly the type of technology . . . that we are looking for here in this city.”
Initially, the company will be based in an interim office at 111 Farquhar St., with plans to have more permanent, fully operational headquarters in Guelph by the end of March 2017.
Schlote said there is an immediate need for about 10 employees in Guelph, with jobs spread across sales, sales support, research and development and general office support.
The Guelph office will be managing the Synexis expansion across the Canadian market and beyond into markets in Asia, Schlote said.
“The strategy is to support international business out of here,” he said.
Currently, the company is based in Kansas City and does manufacturing in Vermont, but there may be potential to expand into manufacturing in Canada, as well, he said.
Guelph was chosen for the headquarters over five other competing cities in three provinces, a news release said.
Factors taken into account in the decision included business culture, community leadership, logistical accessibility, overhead costs and potential local research partnerships, it said.
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