Overcoming the crisis together - a snapshot

Packaging is systemically relevant - no ifs, ands or buts. And yet the impact on companies and their reactions to the coronavirus crisis could not be more different and diverse. We have picked out a few striking aspects from the huge spectrum.

It makes a big difference how the current conditions affect a machine manufacturer or a packaging material or packaging producer. However, they were all driven by it in the first place, Alternatives for „normal“ work processes to test and install systems that minimise the risks to health while maintaining, restructuring or even ramping up production as far as possible.

„We continuously inform our employees about the relevant steps and how they should behave - and customers are also informed about the actively and openly communicated the measures taken. Everyone is dealing with this extraordinary situation in a very responsible and disciplined manner - which is why we are extremely confident that we will successfully overcome this crisis together,“ summarises Dr Daniel Keesman, Managing Partner of Faller Packaging, the Basic tenor, which is also communicated from all other companies.

Industry mood barometer

We asked how, on the one hand, the Overall situation on the company, and which Follow on the other hand, could have on their users. The focus here was less on protecting employees from infection, organising the home office or communicating with customers, and more on the current special features in your own company.

The importance of packaging will increase

„We are currently undergoing profound changes: The emergence of a global pandemic is new territory for us all. The coronavirus will mean that the importance of packaging, with all its important and indispensable protective and hygiene functions, will increase again.“

Peter Marbach, Managing Partner of the Marbach Group

Satisfying increased demand

„Thanks to the measures we have introduced to minimise the risks, we are able to maintain production and the supply chains as a whole. What's more, the Demand for our product solutions has increased significantly, so that we are currently even hiring additional employees. In particular, our FLUXX^®-Pouring taps and closures with and without a degassing function are currently in greater demand.

Our contribution during the coronavirus crisis is the supply of urgently needed product components for disinfectants and other hygiene products. The closures are used to transport the containers safely and the pouring spouts also make it easier for the user to fill them cleanly. In this time of crisis, we are supporting the manufacturers with all our strength and our usual high level of consulting expertise and are helping to minimise the Maintain supply chains of socially necessary goods."

Kevin Eckert, Sales Manager Packaging Sabeu GmbH & Co. KG

Ensuring supply to the population

„Due to contact restrictions and the closure of restaurants, our customers in the food industry are currently facing a rapid increase in demand for long-life cold cuts and cheeses. This challenge comes with a huge responsibility for producers and food retailers. It is about nothing less than ensuring the supply of the population. As a partner to the food industry, I clearly see us in the Shared responsibility. That's why we do everything we can to provide our customers with the best possible support. Without further ado, we have built up an immediately available stock of Machines and production lines for all application and performance areas released, with which our customers Additional production capacities in order to cover the increased demand for self-service cold cuts.

And even more importantly, we ensure that the Stable productionand existing capacities can thus be utilised optimally and efficiently. On-site service and maintenance work are currently unavailable due to Access restrictions This is not possible to the usual extent for external personnel in production areas, but it is more important than ever to maintain production output. With the help of our existing digital solutions such as AR technology and remote service, we can still be there for our customers quickly and efficiently in the event of a fault. Thanks to our decentralised warehouse structure and close cooperation with subsidiaries and sales partners, the availability of spare parts for customers worldwide is also guaranteed. Thanks to our uncompromising customer focus, we are well positioned even in this exceptional situation - and continue to stand by our customers as usual.“

Tobias Weber, Chairman of the Management Board (CEO) Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach

Digital response to the pandemic

„We decided on a package of measures early on to maintain operations during the coronavirus pandemic. This includes, for example, the Extensive decentralisation of our operating business and the Organisation of all location-based activities in alternating shifts. We have also introduced access management and strict hygiene regulations and separated individual departments from one another.

We rely on modern digital channels to communicate with customers and interested parties: Instead of presenting the Romaco Group's new products at interpack, we are now presenting them in a virtual showroom and in the livestream. Our experts will be presenting Romaco technologies live from our plants in individual sessions and will be available to answer questions. We are also currently running the Factory acceptance tests of our machines either as a video FAT or we connect our customers live to the FAT via streaming. This works worldwide. A blister machine for a customer in China has already been removed.

Our supplier structure is highly redundant, meaning that isolated company closures or operational failures would not significantly disrupt our supply chain. So far, we have been able to maintain operations at all locations - including our plant in Bologna in northern Italy. Even if one of our plants had to close temporarily, we would remain operational in order processing, sales support and order fulfilment in addition to our service hotline Unrestricted ability to act. Our customers can rely on us completely, even in these extremely dynamic and challenging times.“

Jörg Pieper, CEO Romaco Group

Overcoming the crisis together

„The impact on Germany and Europe is profound. Social life is coming to an almost complete standstill - that is unsettling and disturbing for all of us. However, I am convinced that our society is well prepared for such crises - and so is our company. As a packaging manufacturer, Faller Packaging is an important part of the Supply chain for medicines. Our primary goal is to ensure that even under adverse circumstances such as the current coronavirus pandemic remain able to deliver for as long as possible. We have prepared for such situations with a sophisticated action plan designed to reliably ensure the production of urgently needed packaging materials. The basis for this is to do everything we can to contain the spread of the virus.“

Dr Daniel Keesman, Managing Partner of Faller Packaging

Ensure product conformity

„With our product inspection solutions, we support the food industry in ensuring the conformity of their articles, thereby addressing a key market segment. Pain point of the industry, which, at its core, is not affected by the coronavirus crisis. I maintain that no manufacturer or brand owner can or will afford to jeopardise the product conformity of their food - not even in times of crisis such as we have not yet experienced. It would be naïve to believe that the current situation cannot have an impact on future investment decisions. However, it would be just as naïve to want to make reliable predictions about this today.“

Rainer Mundt, Head of Marketing at Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection Germany

We need trade fairs

„We all don't yet know what the future holds and how long corona will keep us busy. And we are all asking ourselves: How will the virus affect the economic situation, for you in the companies, globally and nationally, and for us in the event business? But we know that if the economy is to get back on its feet after the crisis, it needs trade fairs to help companies boost their business again. After all, no webinar, video call or VR application can replace face-to-face dialogue and handshakes between business partners in the long term. This is precisely why it is important for us at FachPack to tell you that we are currently working intensively on preparations for FachPack in September 2021, which will take place on its regular date from 28 to 30 September. Here, companies can present their innovations live, discuss customer wishes in dialogue and ‚feel‘ new impulses for the further development of their own business in the exhibition halls. Just as visitors to FachPack can experience new ideas and concrete solutions for their requirements. Because at and with FachPack, we are all shaping the future together, pragmatically, inspiringly and purposefully as always. Stay healthy and get through this time well! We look forward to seeing you again soon.“

Heike Slotta, Head of Events Department, NürnbergMesse

Persevere - carry on - rethink

Companies in the sector are responding very flexibly to the current challenges:

Wrapping Solutions from Rosengarten near Schwäbisch Hall actually specialises in producing interior fittings for cars. Now the decision has been made, Produce mouth and nose protection. Optima supports the company in the optimisation of work processes with a Device for folding the face masks.

Ultrasonic welding is a favoured technology for the production of nonwoven respirator masks. Herrmann Ultraschall has received enquiries from medical technology customers who are expanding their existing production capacities and from hygiene customers who are switching from nappy to mask production. For coordination purposes, a Mask task force was founded. Extra shifts are organised to cover the high demand in a timely manner.

The German Middle class is committed to securing the supply of essential goods quickly and unbureaucratically in times of coronavirus. Three owner-managed packaging specialists provide an example of this: Horna, the Wetropa Group and Schumacher Packaging are currently working together to ensure that the drastic increase in packaging requirements for medical technology products can be met in the shortest possible time.

Weber Maschinenbau's support is completely different: Without further ado, the available stock Machines and production lines This will enable customers to build up additional production capacity to meet the increased demand for self-service sliced meat.

„Balcony singing“ against bottlenecks in the crisis

Special situations require special measures. For example, companies are working intensively on how to support healthcare facilities. In addition to Door handle hook, which are manufactured by Marbach in Heilbronn for use by its own employees, the company is currently producing special face shields that are used in hospitals.

At its headquarters in Selters, Schütz develops and manufactures face visors in record time and already supplies them to neighbouring facilities.

Malteser Hilfsdienst is producing urgently needed hand sanitiser itself for the first time in its hospital pharmacy. Gerresheimer and FM Plast spontaneously provided the necessary bottles and lids free of charge.

Machine manufacturer Kiefel utilises its expertise in the plastics sector and switches its production to the manufacture of urgently needed protective masks for hospitals and retirement homes.

Seufert has Plastic face masks made of PET, which provide a clear view despite covering most of the face. The simple, easy-to-use versions are designed for everyday private use.

And the list of activities and commitments could go on for much, much longer ...

On the current crisis situation, we have also heard voices from the Associations in the packaging industry and inform you in our packaging journal TV.