Xeikon, a supplier of equipment, services and consumables for digitally printed labels and packaging, says it has adequate stocks of consumables on hand for its global customers but says flight cancellations worldwide will impact delivery times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company says by continuing to ensure equipment, consumables and service supply is maintained means Xeikon customers will be able to keep producing the documentation, labels and packaging required to get food, health and pharmaceutical products to market during the coronavirus crisis.
Xeikon president and chief executive officer Benoit Chatelard says, “Many of our customers, particularly converters, are producing essential print such as documentation, labels and packaging for critical items like pharmaceutical products, food for supermarkets, labels for disinfectant bottles, to name but a few, and rely on our solutions to ensure that essential supplies are made available to sick, vulnerable and isolated people.
“In order for them to keep up with production demands during this crisis, they need reliable access to consumables, parts and services from Xeikon, and our entire team is committed to doing its best to ensure a consistent flow of these items.
“Xeikon has sufficient stock and a stable supply in consumables and spares to support our customers globally. However, as many flights worldwide have been cancelled and as countries enact more restrictions on traffic, we could expect some shipments to take longer than before to be delivered. That being said, we will keep our customers informed of the status of all shipments and requests for service so they know exactly what to expect.”
Chatelard said Xeikon is first and foremost ensuring the health of staff is maintained and using remote diagnostics to identify problems with equipment is a measure that is being used to prevent technicians from physically attending print sites.
“While some cases may require on-site visits from a technician, there is a lot we can do with remote diagnostics and technical support. All our machines are connected and, to a large extent, self-diagnostic. For interactive discussions with customers and prospects, we are investing in tools that allow us to produce virtual demonstrations and testing for customers. We are also closely monitoring the economic impact of the Corona emergency, both to the overall printing industry and for Xeikon’s business.”
Xeikon is also revisiting its go-to-market strategy in light of the postponement of drupa to April 2021.
“We will be bringing some new products to market prior to drupa,” Chatelard states, “in order to make the latest technology available to our customers. And by drupa 2021, we expect to have even more innovation available to announce and exhibit so customers can be well-prepared for the recovery that is sure to come.”
Last but certainly not least, let’s thank all the Xeikon employees for their engagement and contribution to allow Xeikon to continue its operations in these critical times.
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