CWS hires Irish expert for cleanroom cleaning – Specialised Sterile Environments Limited

(Image rights: SSE Cleaning Ltd.)

CWS International GmbH, the service group based in Germany, has acquired Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd. (SSE), an Irish company specializing in cleanroom cleaning, decontamination, and hygiene services for the Irish pharmaceutical and medical technology industry. This expands CWS's international portfolio of cleaning and decontamination services in the highly specialized cleanroom segment and contributes to the company's sustainable growth strategy. SSE Cleaning was sold by its former owner and founder Mary Connell. The deal was completed on August 31, 2021, for an undisclosed sum.

"CWS Cleanrooms is part of the €1.3 billion CWS Group and Europe's first provider of complete cleanroom solutions. With the acquisition of Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd., we are expanding our offerings in Ireland. From today, we will also be able to offer cleanroom cleaning to our Irish customers and become a more integrated service provider for cleanroom operations," explains Markus Schad, Regional Managing Director Cleanrooms & Healthcare at CWS, about the acquisition. "We will continue to work with the existing management of SSE Cleaning and look forward to a successful integration. We warmly welcome our new colleagues to the CWS family."

"Through a strong service orientation and extensive experience working with the Irish life sciences sector, SSE Cleaning has successfully expanded its business in Galway, Dublin, Athlone, and Limerick over the past few years," says Mary Connell, CEO of Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd. "We are pleased that, with the support of the CWS Group, we have the opportunity to continue growing our company and to focus further on the area of specialized cleanroom cleaning."

CWS Cleanrooms grows across Europe

CWS Cleanrooms is expanding sustainably across Europe. "We plan to grow both through organic growth and through our M&A initiatives. Our network of technical experts and dedicated employees will continue to be expanded. We strive for the highest service level in a highly regulated business environment," says Markus Schad.

Clement Higgins, Managing Director of CWS Ireland, adds: "Today, CWS offers a range of services in the areas of cleanroom, workwear rental, and hygiene for nearly 5,000 customers across Ireland. With a turnover of €31 million and 370 employees in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway, we plan to double our cleanroom business in Ireland over the next five years to keep pace with the growth of the Irish biopharma and medtech sectors. The acquisition of SSE Cleaning is an important step in expanding our portfolio of cleanroom services and achieving our goal of becoming a full-service provider for cleanrooms and controlled production environments in Ireland."

The acquisition of SSE Cleaning to expand CWS's cleanroom business in Ireland follows previous acquisitions of WERO, a Dutch specialist in cleanroom cleaning, and profi-con, a German company specializing in cleanroom cleaning and expertise in presence and online training.