The Woodlands petrochemical company Huntsman is switching production at an Alabama plant to make hand sanitizer that will be sent to health care facilities nationwide as they combat the coronavirus, the company said Monday.

The plant in McIntosh normally makes coatings and adhesives for the aerospace, wind energy and automotive industries. The first 5-ton shipment of hand sanitizer will be donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and associated medical facilities at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Pandemic: Baker Hughes retasks 3D printers to make anti-coronavirus gear

Huntsman does not produce isopropyl alcohol, a key ingredient in hand sanitizer, but received a donation from Houston refining company LyondellBasell that will allow the first shipment to be produced.

“We thank the FDA for moving swiftly to issue the temporary guidelines that have enabled us to fast-track our production and distribution of much-needed hand sanitizer in the U.S.," Huntsman CEO Peter Huntsman said.

Huntsman is the latest Houston-area company to change part of its operation to make products that can be used in the fight against coronavirus. Houston oil-field service company Baker Hughes said last week that its spare 3D printers are making parts used to construct face shields and other protective gear.

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