As customers clamored for hand sanitizer and grocery store shelves cleared during the COVID-19 pandemic, New Caney’s Gates Engineered Lubricants rose to the challenge to provide a safe, sustainable supply of hand sanitizer for the business community.
Located in the East Montgomery County Industrial Park, Gates Lubricants purchases the sanitizer from a bottling company that packages the hand sanitizer made in bulk by a manufacturer into 1-gallon jugs.
In addition to the hand sanitizer, Gates Engineered Lubricants normally produces a full line of innovative specialty industrial fluids to businesses throughout the Houston area for improved functionality from their equipment while making sure consumers are safe, which is why providing the hand sanitizer was a win-win.
“We were given the opportunity by one of our customers who began manufacturing sanitizer to partner with them and ensure our fellow community members were getting the hand sanitizer they need,” said Jerry Gates, owner of Gates Lubricants. “At the time we first started this partnership, it was next to impossible to find. We are offering our customers, all of which are manufacturers and have from 10 to 2,000 employees, these gallons of hand sanitizers to help keep their plants clean and safe.”
Gates Engineered Lubricants has remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure consumers can access and purchase the industrial fluids they need to continue operating and provide the hand sanitizer as a bonus.
“Gates Engineered Lubricants has remained open the entire time frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an essential supplier to manufacturing,” Jerry added.
Going forward, if hand sanitizer is hard to find once again, Gates Engineered Lubricants will consider manufacturing both the gel and liquid sanitizer at the New Caney facility.
“We will have a staff meeting shortly to decide if this is an avenue we wish to explore,” said Jerry. “Should the final decision be made to move forward with the project, we will construct a new building and blend plant dedicated to hand sanitizer.”