Global coronavirus outbreak has already significantly impacted industries and markets of all kinds. This includes the machine vision and imaging space where, despite concerns and restrictions placed around the world, companies are pressing on as much as possible.
Below are some statements from international companies on the impact of COVID-19 and business operations. If you’d like to add a statement from your company here, please reach out to Jimmy Carroll, Editor at [email protected].
Active Silicon
“At Active Silicon we’ve made some internal changes and put measures in place to keep operations running and maintain product supply to our customers. Many of our staff are working from home, but our production facility remains open with multiple skeleton staff teams to ship products as efficiently as ever, and our technical support team is still fully functional.”
Allied Vision
“In regards of the COVID-19 crisis we have defined several measures in order to protect the health and safety of our employees as well as secure our production sites, supply chain and services for customers in order to maintain the continuity of our deliveries and services,” says Peter Tix, Managing Director, Allied Vision.
Basler
We feel confident that with our unique capability of having two independent production sites (Germany and Singapore), we maximize our chances of maintaining our delivery times and supply. Our pre and post sales technical support teams are fully up and running and able to assist our customers as well as our Order Administration teams worldwide. Although it is not business as usual for anyone, we are confident that we are well prepared to serve you during these uncertain times.
Baumer
Baumer is shipping product from its Southington, CT, USA facility and is using all supply chain operations from Europe to maintain on-time deliveries. The company is also proactively increasing inventory levels in the U.S. to hedge against future unpredictable global events.
“Baumer-Southington, CT plans to remain open for business, and our staff will continue to provide exceptional service and solutions. We have ensured that all our employees have been provided with technology to work from home in order to provide you seamless support, wherever you are located,” says Mel Ralbosky, President.
Chromasens
All non-production related staff around the world has been asked to work from home. Technical support teams remain available as usual. The company's sales support team, together with its planning department, can provide estimated shipping dates in case of an urgent order. As of today, there have been no major impacts on any of our operations.
Company management is in particularly close contact with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers located in affected areas, evaluating activities in partnership to minimize risk. Moreover, Chromasens is increasing its critical stock level, so there is no impact on current orders.
Datalogic
“This global emergency has had a limited impact on our activities. Datalogic’s main manufacturing facilities are in Vietnam, Hungary and Slovakia and we can confirm that at present time there has been no closure or suspension of the production of our devices, ensuring our customers a continuity in the deliveries of products and supplies.”
Euresys
Euresys does not anticipate any shortages in the coming weeks, as supports, sales, administration, and shipments are fully operational, albeit with reduced essential staff in offices.
“We would like to confirm our continued commitment to the success of our customers and partners and we stay confident about the bright future of machine vision.”
FLIR
“As the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow and governments around the world respond to this unprecedented health emergency, FLIR Systems is committed to maintaining its operations and delivering critical lifesaving products to our customers,” says Jim Cannon, President and CEO.
FRAMOS
"Since Framos and especially our suppliers are very active in the Asian market, we have been ;working with this situation since January of 2020. We have been able to stabilize the situation on the supply side in a very short time to minimize the risk for our customers. We have increased strategic stock where possible and are daily adjusting to the situation as it develops. We are very thankful to our suppliers, especially in China who have been very reactive and we can report no major impact so far," says Dr. Andreas Franz, CEO.
ISRA Vision
"The vast majority of our products are available, and our installation projects remain unchanged. We can demonstrate our solutions via web sessions and thereby ensure continuity in doing business with you. For the time being, please understand that we will assess any in-person visits on an individual basis."
Keyence
“The safety of our employees and customers is of utmost importance to us. While we are fully operational, we are closely monitoring and following guidance from public health authorities as we set our company policies.”
“With additional safety measures in place, constantly adapting to the latest guidance from public health authorities - our warehouse in Chicago is stocked and running at full capacity, we are still able to ship most orders the same day.”
Imperx
“As the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow and governments around the world respond to this health emergency, IMPERX is committed to maintaining its operations and delivering critical products to our customers. We are actively working to monitor supply chain continuity risks across the company. At this time, we have experienced minimal disruption in our supply chain. Given the fluid nature of the situation and policy changes occurring at the local and national levels, we have contingency plans in place to mitigate potential disruptions as this situation evolves,” says Gregory Pangburn, Chief Financial Officer.
IO Industries
IO Industries has resumed production activities. IO Industries meets the threshold of an Essential Workplace under the guidance provided by the Ontario Government on March 24, 2020. All manufacturing staff have been ordered to report to work until further notice. Staff already working remotely will continue to do so. Shipments of customer orders will resume effective immediately.
LMI Technologies
“Our production staff are continuing to build product as scheduled. We maintain a large safety stock of our most critical components in order to prevent any supply disruptions from impacting our customers. Our sales support team, together with our planning department are happy to provide estimated shipping dates if you have questions about an urgent order. Obviously, the situation is changing rapidly, and we will advise if new circumstances affect our current outlook,” says Terry Arden, CEO.
Matrox Imaging
Matrox Imaging is supporting full-scale manufacturing and distribution in global operations. Production and delivery cycles have continued as scheduled during the time.
“We’re offering committed and ongoing customer support and service. Matrox will continue to monitor developments closely, while following the latest guidance from the WHO, CDC, and local health authorities. It is in such times that we are reminded that we are part of a broader community. We are all in this together—and we will get through this together,” says Lorne Trottier, President and Owner.
Navitar
“Navitar, Special Optics, and Pixelink will be maintaining regular business hours at this time. Products are readily available, and our supply chain has not been affected. We will, of course, provide updates should any changes to our operations occur,” says Steven Morales, Chief Operating Office.
Opto Engineering
“I wish to inform you personally that the situation in Italy is not at all dramatic. Few Italian areas are currently kept in quarantine, but this does not affect the continuity of our business. Opto Engineering is regularly at work like many other Italian companies. Our headquarters in Mantua, the commercial office in Milan and our JVs (Oesum and Tielogic) are all regularly at work and all are taking the necessary precautions required by the region to which they belong,” says Claudio Sedazzari, CEO and President.
Photoneo
"We deeply care about the satisfaction of our customers and partners. Therefore, we adopted regulations that allow us to remain fully operational and available for your convenience. Our production capacities remain intact and ready for your orders with minor-to-no effect on delivery dates," says Jan Zizka, CEO.
Pleora
Many of our customers have reached out to us expressing concern related to potential disruption to their businesses due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We would like to outline some of the steps Pleora has taken to ensure business continuity as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains. To-date our entire supply chain remains secure, and we are confident in our ability to secure raw materials and ship products on time. Our operations and executive teams are proactively monitoring the status of our supply chain to mitigate any potential disruptions and ensure we can continue to meet both expected and unforeseen product demand for our customers.
Sensopart
In order to protect each individual and to guarantee the business operations of our company, our employees will be working from home in order to support you and your business. Our employees in production and logistics work in several groups and shifts under strict guidelines according to the specifications of the relevant health institute (Robert Koch Institute) in Germany. Currently there are no bottlenecks within our supply chains, so the delivery of our products is without any problems, also thanks to the great commitment of our employees.
Smart Vision Lights
"Smart Vision Lights will continue to operate and support essential businesses. We have been identified as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce as described by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under an umbrella of several critical infrastructure sectors, and we look forward to doing our best to support you during this time. Smart Vision Lights’ Procurement Staff are working around the clock with our global supply chain to assist in creating solutions to minimize disruptions to our channels. If your order is impacted, Smart Vision Lights’ Customer Service will notify you via email and provide you with updates as they are available," says Dave Spaulding, President and CEO.
About the Author
James Carroll
Former VSD Editor James Carroll joined the team 2013. Carroll covered machine vision and imaging from numerous angles, including application stories, industry news, market updates, and new products. In addition to writing and editing articles, Carroll managed the Innovators Awards program and webcasts.