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American biotech company chooses Guelph as home for Canadian operations

Synexis Canada Limited plans on expanding operations, including manufacturing, in future
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Eric Schlote, CEO of Synexis, speaks at Guelph City Hall Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, announcing the company will make Guelph its new Canadian headquarters. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

An international company that creates a new air purification technology is locating its Canadian head office in Guelph.

Synexis Canada Limited will initially add 10 employees locally to its new operation, but Chief Executive Officer Eric Schlote said that there is the potential for many more jobs in the future, including manufacturing jobs.

"Right now it's manufactured in Vermont, but certainly we're open - as we grow - to moving manufacturing here," Schlote said at a City Hall event Tuesday announcing the company is coming to Guelph.

"We fully intend on expanding and that includes manufacturing as well."

Synexis provides Biodefence Systems, an air purification technology that uses dry hydrogen peroxide to continuously disinfect the air and indoor surfaces.

"Basically we have patented a new form of technology which is dry hydrogen peroxide .... we've patented basically a state of matter," Schlote said.

The system is currently in use in The Elliott Community retirement home in Guelph.

Hospitals, schools and government buildings are some of the other potential uses for the technology.

"There's a lot of opportunities for this technology. We're very successful with sports teams right now, any municipal buildings, office buildings and also animal health," he said.

"We're going to be a very high growth company and we fully intend on expanding internationally from our headquarters here in Canada," the CEO said.

Schlote spoke at a press conference Tuesday at Guelph City Hall announcing the company coming to Guelph.

Following a three month evaluation process, Guelph was chosen over several other Canadian municipalities in bringing Synexis to town.

Schlote cited Guelph's community attributes, the city's willingness to partner, logistical location and potential research partners at the University of Guelph as reasons the Royal City was chosen.

The company's head office is located in Kansas City and it currently out sources manufacturing to a company in Vermont. But Schlote said as the company continues with its expansion plans, including Canada and Asia, there is almost certainly going to be growth to its Guelph operations.

They will temporarily be located on Farquahar Street while a more permanent home is sourced.

Mayor Cam Guthrie praised the work of the city's economic development team at Tuesday's announcement.

"We moved quickly on this and that's exactly the type of business climate that we have to have in this city," Guthrie said.

"We wowed them with what Guelph had to offer, and it doesn't take a lot to wow people with what Guelph has to offer."


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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