ATHENS, Ohio — It was March of 2020 — the cusp of the pandemic, lockdowns had begun and Dusty Tenney had just been appointed as the new CEO of Stirling Ultracold. 

What You Need To Know

  • Stirling Ultracold is an important part of Ohio's vaccine rollout

  • It's a big task, but the team is up for the challenge

  • The company is helping store Pfzier and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines

Now with a big task ahead of him, he found himself leading a company, playing a vital part in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We decided that we wanted to stay the course. We kept everybody employed throughout that period of time. Then to realize an incredible opportunity ahead of us, in relationship to the products that we had in our portfolio,” said Tenney. 

Stirling UltraCold just so happens to specialize in three different sizes of ULT freezers, which allow for storage at temperatures between minus 20 and minus 80 degrees Celsius — the temperature requirements for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. 

“And many of the vaccine manufacturers have specified the requirements around ultra-low temperature cold, primarily to make sure that they have the efficacy that when administered, deliverers the impact that all the world is looking for. We're producing anywhere from 25 to 35 of these systems on a daily basis, given the broad, worldwide demand,” said Tenney. 

In recent weeks, Stirling Ultracold Announced a merger agreement with Seattle Based BioLife Solutions. 

The merger is expected to keep Ultracold's brand and maintain their existing staff of more than 200. 

“The most trying aspect associated with our team is they've been working tirelessly. You know, six days a week, 10 hours a day. They have sincere intent on keeping the business here in Ohio and making sure we continue to focus on the capabilities of building out the breath of opportunities to support the sell of gene therapy market,” said Tenney. 

And as recent national reports indicate, the COVID-19 vaccine could become an annual occurrence. 

Officials with Sterling Ultracold said they're ready to meet increasing demand.

Tenney said he feels he's at the right place at the right time to help lead a team doing its part to bring an end to the pandemic.

“The opportunity here has been for me to galvanize, to find great people, to build an enterprise, and we've done that successfully,” said Tenney. 

The ULT portable cooler sized freezer unit holds up to 6-thousand doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

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