Mölnlycke AB is founded as a textile business. By the early 1900s the company becomes one of the main gauze suppliers to Swedish hospitals.
Pioneering since 1849
The history of Mölnlycke is one of innovation
Healthcare professionals and their care for patients have always been our focus. Right from our early days as a textile manufacturer supplying gauze to Swedish hospitals.
We're still innovating today
Healthcare professionals and their care for patients have always been our focus. Right from our early days as a textile manufacturer supplying gauze to Swedish hospitals.
Throughout our history, we’ve been driven by the desire to find better ways to deliver care – and support healthcare professionals.
We were the first to mass-produce wound dressings and the first to offer single-use drapes, tubular bandages and powder-free coated surgical gloves, enhancing performance in the operating room.
We’re the company behind Safetac® – the revolutionary soft silicone-based technology used in many of our wound care dressings such as Mepitel® and Mepilex® that results in less pain for patients 1 2 3.
We’re still innovating today – in-house, through partnerships with others and through acquisitions. And now we’re leading the way in preventing pressure ulcers, with prophylactic dressings and devices for turning and re-positioning patients.
Did you know?
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Every minute, we manufacture about 400 pairs of Biogel® gloves
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There are more than 16,000 different customised Mölnlycke procedure trays
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Each day, our Mölnlycke tray factories process more than 800,000 components
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1849
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1920
Swabs and dressings are prepared by nurses and patients, using industrially-produced gauze. Dirty gauze is often laundered and re-used.
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1950
Mölnlycke pioneers the industrial manufacturing of swabs and wound dressings in Sweden, gradually replacing hospital manual work with pre-packed products.
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1960
Mölnlycke introduces a range of new materials and techniques designed to reduce bacteria spreading. The company focuses on promoting the change from multi-use textiles to ready packed, single-use dressings, drapes and surgical gowns.
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1980s
Thomas Fabo invents the revolutionary Safetac® technology, which reduces pain and tissue damage in wound management. In 1989 Mölnlycke launches Mepitel® wound contact layer – the first product using Safetac.
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1990
Thanks to continued strong growth, Surgical and Wound Care are divided into two fully-fledged business areas. Flagship wound care products include Mepitel®, Mepiform® and Mepilex®. ProcedurePak® trays are introduced in 1999.
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2000s
Success continues with the introduction of BARRIER®-branded drapes and gowns. Mepilex® Border launches in 2001 to treat chronic wounds.
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2010s
After the discovery that Mepilex® Border is also effective at preventing pressure ulcers, Mölnlycke’s third business area, Prevention, is born.
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2020s
Mepilex® Border Flex and Granulox® oxygen therapy.
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2024
In 2024, Mölnlycke celebrated 175 years of being a progressive and innovative MedTech company.
Acquisitions
1975 Acquired by SCA
2005 Merged with Regent Medical and Medlock Medical
2007 Acquired by Investor AB
2009 Aquired JKT
2010 Acquired Rynel
2016 Acquired Sundance
2018 SastoMed GmbH
2019 M&J Airlaid Products A/S
2024 Acquisition of P.G.F. Industry Solutions
References
- Davies P, et al. Evidence review: the clinical benefits of Safetac technology in wound care. J Wound Care. 2008; Supplement:3-31.
- Santamaria N, et al. Clinical effectiveness of a silicone foam dressing for the prevention of heel pressure ulcers in critically ill patients: Border II Trial. J Wound Care. 2015;24(8):340-345.
- Santamaria N, et al. An estimate of the potential budget impact of using prophylactic dressings to prevent hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in Australia. J Wound Care 2014;23(11):583-589.