STERIS Instrument Management Services’ (IMS) largest UK facility is now operational at Barwell Business Park.

The global innovator of Medical Devices and Infection Control solutions – with more than 20 sites across the UK – supports NHS Trusts across the country with Medical Device Decontamination services and the manufacture and repair of Medical Devices.

The new centre at units 1 to 4 Barwell Business Park in Chessington – 41,000 sq ft in area – will be dedicated to the decontamination and sterilization of NHS Medical Devices, including surgical instruments and endoscopes.

Secured through Altus Group and acquiring agent CBRE Industrial, it is the largest letting at Barwell in the last decade. Merit Health Ltd led the major fit-out.

STERIS IMS will process 15 million medical instruments a year at Barwell, a significant increase on the 9 million per annum at its current largest facility in Sheffield.

Sterilization services for Kingston Hospital will be based at Barwell, and an existing customer at Epsom Hospital has relocated there. The new site will also provide opportunities for flexibility and expansion.

On choosing Barwell for the facility Project Manager, Mark Brown, said: “It is a key location for customers and staff, as well as for the huge opportunities in central London and the wider London region. Our customers require a short reprocessing turnaround time for their Medical Devices and it’s much easier to achieve this if you are close to your customers and, critically, it is easier to retain and transfer staff to the new facility. Barwell is close to major airports and we regularly have visitors from the US, including the senior management team, and Barwell is a good location to showcase STERIS equipment, products and services for our national and international customers. It is an aspirational business park where the buildings are of a good standard with nice open areas around them.”

STERIS IMS has taken its employees to Barwell and will seek to hire more as they attract new business, with the expectation that up to 170 employees will be based at the site, from technicians to back-office roles.

The company has also pledged to connect with the local community, saying: “With construction continuing through the pandemic, STERIS IMS Chessington is now fully operational.

“The largest facility in the STERIS network, offering both sterile services and flexible endoscope decontamination, our new super centre also brings new grass roots projects as part of its construction.

“Working closely with creative arts students, we’ll be displaying a range of artwork throughout the building. A great big thank you to everyone involved, your dedication has produced amazing results.”