Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 virus is dominating the news cycle, and it must also be dominating your personal and professional conversations. Here at Holmach it is no different; we are actively implementing our response to this situation with our staff and our customers while operating in an environment of considerable uncertainty.

At Holmach, we are leaning on our core values: Commitment, Professionalism, Teamwork and Communication. These values have guided us since our founding in 1974, and we draw on our considerable experience in helping our customers navigate through their most urgent and challenging situations. In a crisis, the foremost concerns must be personal health and safety— of our families, our employees, and ourselves. Taking care of those who contract the virus and joining the global community in taking sensible steps to slow its spread is of the utmost importance.

Once all have addressed the critical efforts to safeguard family, friends and neighbours, we turn to the health and safety of our business. Our Company exists to protect and enhance our customers’ businesses and help them manage through the most complex of challenges. There is no single formula for doing this, and the COVID-19 threat is unprecedented. However, there are a few responses that can be applied which we have developed through decades of helping customers with their challenges in machinery purchase and business/project management. At the highest level, we have implemented and we recommend that:

1. Recognize this situation for what it is—a crisis. We will, and ask that you will, continue to communicate constantly, consistently, and transparently.
2. We will continue to ensure our invoices are paid on time and in full. We ask that you honour invoices due to us in the same way.
3. In parallel, we plan for the worst-case scenario—in both magnitude and duration—and have developed a list of changes that can be implemented should the crisis deepen or linger. How will we supply spare parts, engineering services and support and above all keep to keep you as our customers engaged ? Holmach will endeavour to ensure that within the UK and Irish market place we secure support for you for all of these things.
4. Think creatively about who can help. In a crisis, our customers and suppliers are not just arm’s length economic partners; they are flesh-and-blood communities facing the same issues we are. The solutions that will make us resilient will often be found with your partners. Although we have had to suspend air travel from the UK for the foreseeable future, we will offer all the support we can to ensure the UK and Irish Food manufacturers keep going. We will continue to resolve service and breakdown issues, using our UK based engineers and where possible by Skype. We will still supply spare parts and support and please rest assured we will be in regular contact when required to ensure that ongoing projects are not jeopardised.

Two things we know about crises from our experience: they are all different, and they all end. Many of you have already reached out to ask a question, brainstorm an idea, or enquire if Holmach has an action plan detailing steps to take during a crisis. We are grateful for your continued communication and we are happy to help in any way possible.

With Best Wishes
Chris Holland