Ecolab already offers process cleaning services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and therefore found the acquisition, whose financial details were not disclosed, complementary.

With sales of approximately $19m (€15m), Shield does not just offer specialist contamination control products but also shares its experience of high quality manufacturing in cleanrooms to current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards with pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Although life science cleanrooms are required to operate to cGMP and maintain specific microbiological and particulate limits according to the grade of cleanroom, there is little advice on how this should be achieved, so Shield offers help on many aspects of contamination control through confidential consultation, technical support and the supply of helpful articles and documents.

The company also offers outsourcing services, including production of contamination control products and the assembly, packaging and CE marking of fluids and dry products.

"With its established position in the fast-growing clean room market, Shield will significantly enhance our European offering in healthcare and provide further product breadth as we work to help customers better meet rapidly increasing standards in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing processes," Ecolab CEO Douglas Baker said.

"Further, the similarities between our two companies' direct sales and service approach, emphasis on customer service and focused product innovation should result in a seamless integration."

A $4.5bn company, Ecolab is a global developer and marketer of premium cleaning, sanitizing, pest elimination, maintenance and repair products for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare and industrial markets.