The Coronavirus crisis has caused chaos across the globe and forced us all to work in unprecedented ways, but like many terrible events it has had the side effect of bringing out the best in plenty of people, companies and organisations.
Here at Whitmar we want to celebrate the ingenuity, resourcefulness and selflessness that has been demonstrated by so many working in our industry and to share some stories of the good things that are still taking place in print.
For example, since the very beginning of this crisis industry bodies and trade associations in the UK and abroad have done everything they can to protect the sector and the people and businesses that make it up.
The slew of events that have been cancelled, suspended and postponed have largely been rescheduled and virtual events have been launched to enable people to still witness products in action.
In a similar manner virtual networks have been set up to enable companies to share information and ideas in an effort to contribute what they can to the fight the effect of the outbreak. In many instances this is allowing for the production of essential PPE and social distancing signage.
There was also the news, early on in the crisis, that involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of food have been included in the Department of Education’s list of key workers and that packaging production reached levels ‘as high as Christmas’ as supermarkets struggle to keep up with panic buyers, stockpiling food and cosmetic goods.
Finally, despite the cancelled events, economic uncertainty and all the other difficulties we face at the moment, companies are still rolling out exciting new products. There are still many difficult weeks ahead of all of us, but there are still things to celebrate and look forward to, this is just a small selection:
Hybrid software will be offering free temporary software licences of Packz to all existing Packz customers as part of a drive to help people work from home.
John Brailsford, managing director of John Brailsford Printers, has promised that his 14 staff will continue to be paid whatever happens during the outbreak. Mr Brailsford has described this as part of a ‘trend of positivity.’
Northern Flags and FaberExposize UK have been supplying supermarkets, offices and doctor’s surgeries with Anti Slip Social distancing floor vinyls, printed on its Agfa presses.
The value of Fujifilm’s shares has risen after its healthcare division developed a drug which the Chinese government has described as ‘clearly effective’ in the battle against Coronavirus.
Soyang Europe has moved to reassure its customers that, not only can it guarantee an uninterrupted supply of its products but that it still plans to unveil environmentally friendly printable textiles display materials.
Following the sensible decision to postpone a range of industry events, major exhibitions including drupa, Fespa and Sign and Digital UK have confirmed rescheduled dates for when they will go ahead.
Koenig & Bauer has released year-end results which saw its share price rise by almost 7%. The company is planning to suspend the payment of its dividends for the 2019 financial year.
CMYUK has increased stocks of Pongs textiles in the UK as part of efforts to offer ‘full contingency support to the UK and Irish digital wide-format printing industries.’
From 1 April Bicester-based Webmart will pay all of its existing key suppliers within seven days of the date of the invoice to help those suppliers make their way through the ongoing outbreak.
GMG Color UK has started to provide a remote proofing service, helping companies with proofing requirements that aren’t able to visit wide-format printers onsite.
