Nordion

Nordion is a leading provider of medical gamma technologies used for the prevention and treatment of disease and infection. The company specializes in producing and supplying cobalt-60, a key medical isotope used in gamma sterilization of medical devices and cancer treatments. Nordion has been involved in building irradiators and shipping cobalt sources globally for over 50 years. The company's products are used daily by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories in more than 40 countries worldwide. Nordion plays a critical role in safeguarding global health by delivering safe, high-quality cobalt-60 products that help sterilize billions of medical devices like gloves, masks and syringes annually. The company also produces specialized cobalt-60 sources for cancer treatments. In August 2018, Nordion sold its medical isotopes business to BWX Technologies, while retaining its gamma technologies and cobalt-60 operations.

Key customers and partnerships

Nordion's customer base includes both contract sterilizers and medical device manufacturers. The company has a long-standing partnership with Bruce Power to produce cobalt-60. In August 2023, Nordion and Bruce Power announced plans to increase cobalt-60 production to meet rising global demand, with Bruce Power innovating new reactor configurations to boost output. This expansion aims to reinforce Ontario's position as a supplier of approximately 50% of the global cobalt-60 supply. Nordion also works with multiple reactor facilities worldwide to maintain a diverse cobalt-60 supply chain, including partnerships with suppliers in Russia, India and China. The company has invested in developing new cobalt production capabilities in light water reactors and is exploring projects with reactor operators in the US, Canada and Romania to further expand supply.