Xeikon, a key provider of equipment, services and consumables for digitally printed labels and packaging, has reconfirmed its dedication to continuing to make critical consumables available for its presses. This enables customers to produce the documentation, labels and packaging required to get food, health and pharmaceutical products to market during the coronavirus crisis.

The coronavirus has impacted the health and well-being of many people in various countries around the world. Many businesses worldwide are impacted by production disturbances, supply and delivery interruptions, and Xeikon is committed to minimizing these for its customers.

“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,” says Benoit Chatelard, Xeikon’s president and CEO. “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 notes that the company’s first priority is to safeguard the health of its employees per World Health Organization and government guidelines, closely followed by implementation of measures to guarantee the continuity of its supply chain and safeguard business continuity for customers.

“While some cases may require on-site visits from a technician,” he says, “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.”

In addition, in light of the postponement of drupa 2020 to April 2021, Xeikon is revisiting its go-to-market strategy and preparing to be fully ready to deal with both the current crisis and drupa 2021 by continuing to bring to market the innovation that the industry has come to expect from the company. “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,” he adds.