Local Miles Plant Joins Bayer Chain

Miles Inc. becomes Bayer Corp. April 3 in a nationwide changeover that will include the company’s facility on North Regal.

The Spokane plant, which produces anti-allergy products, will unveil a new sign and raise a new corporate banner in ceremonies that start at 11 a.m. Monday, spokesman George Coleman said.

Corporate spokesman Lew Borman said the name change will eliminate a problem that has shadowed the U.S. operations of Germany-based Bayer AG since the end of World War I, when it was stripped of its aspirin business.

Bayer bought back the rights to the name last September, when it paid SmithKline Beecham $1 billion for the over-the-counter drug business of Sterling Winthrop Inc.

“It has been a long-term goal to reacquire the name,” Borman said.

He said the acquisition and name change will allow the company, with more than 50 plants all over the United States, to operate more efficiently.

Also, Borman said, Bayer will launch a campaign to educate the public on the range of markets it serves, including chemicals, health care and imaging.

“We are a lot more than one product,” he said.