The coronavirus pandemic is currently hitting the German economy with full force. For German packaging machine manufacturers, the cancellation of interpack was not the only major blow.
Just a few weeks ago, nobody could have imagined that even large companies would send their employees home and close their doors. The sectors particularly affected include the German mechanical and plant engineering. With 1.3 million people in employment largest industrial employer in Germany. Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, speaks in an interview with packaging journal about the impact on his industry.
„It's an incredibly big challenge. We live from exports, many of our companies have an export share of well over 90 per cent. Now customers can no longer come to us, final inspections are no longer being carried out and the closed borders mean that our fitters can no longer travel abroad.“ Richard Clemens, VDMA
This is not only the Service area affected; increasing Disruptions in the supply chain would already lead to production losses. „It is often enough for just one small part to be missing from a packaging machine, be it from China or even just from the neighbouring Austria or Italy."
Just four weeks ago, it was assumed that the interpack Clemens continues: „We have already sensed that customers are very much more careful with travelling in the country and also across borders. It soon became clear that the interpack not take place under these conditions as we are used to.“
After the Packaging machinery industry between November and January a slight recovery the lack of interpack is also hitting manufacturers hard. „But above all the Global restraint in all areas and the crisis Growing production losses are really hurting our industry.“
The interview with Richard Clemens is part of the current issue of our new packaging journal tv
