PPMA confirm Process and Packaging Machinery Manufacturing as "key business" to fight COVID-19

Further to the Government's announcement last night regarding restrictions on all non-essential business travel; WE, as packaging machine manufacturers and contract packers, have a critical role to play.

As many of our network are key businesses, Premier are involved in the packaging, production, maintenance, and parts for equipment serving the food, FMCG, and pharmaceutical industries. Our services are required to take a 'business as usual' approach, in line with public health guidelines and key workers.

“Food and other necessary goods

This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods (for example hygienic and veterinary medicines).” - Gov UK

PPMA have confirmed this in liaison with Make UK whom are actively lobbying the Government on Key Manufacturing issues.

During this period we are proud to offer our services to all of our network and the UK to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to get through this period quickly. We all are united in this chaos, so please show support to all and give where you can.

A huge thank you to ALL key workers, the public who are following advice with a strict policy and of course, our wonderful NHS for all they continue to do to save lives.

A number of our office staff are working from home where possible to help reduce the risk of spread within the workplace and so far we have zero confirmed cases within our factory. Our contract packing and workshop facilities remain open as usual, however we have enforced social distancing measures and scaled up on our hygiene policy in accordance with the government guidelines.

We are running a reduced physical machine service programme as on-the-road engineers are struggling to find open hotels and restaurants during their travels. We have limited this to urgent breakdown visits only, and where remote support is not possible. To help this situation we have launched our Remote Service Support portal which will allow our customers to work 1-1 with our service engineers, to provide remote support for machine servicing, guidance, and repairs.

Working closely with our customers' internal engineers, we will do our best with a range of technologies to provide a solution to minimise downtime and increase productivity via Video Call, Phone Call and Instant Messaging. We recommend all of our customers to consider holding critical spare parts in their own stock during this time, and for those already holding stock we recommend to increase stock volumes. We're reducing spares prices during this period to help our customers with the financial burden. Please contact our service team to place any spare parts orders.

This post will be updated as and when information changes, and if you are in need of a Labelling Machine solution, Contract Packing Service or Packaging Advice, get in touch today!