Timo Amels, managing director of ATR Industrie-Elektronik GmbH is aware of the health risks that Covid-19 poses for his employees and thus he implemented some practical preventive measures such as working from home and separation of work areas at an early stage. And it’s been a success. But he can also see what is at stake for business: “Besides the health of our employees, one of our current biggest concerns is that the supply chains will break down and logistics will collapse.” The 53-year-old manager sees the potential dangers: “It would mean that we would have to put all of our roughly hundred-strong workforce on short-time work overnight.”
Since the Krefeld company also supplies its plant technology to the food industry, it has “system-relevant” status. “At the moment, orders are still stable,” Mr. Amels says. For example, in order to keep production processes running and to fulfil its delivery commitments, ATR ordered larger quantities of enclosure and housing technology from Rittal five weeks ago as a precautionary measure – they received the products straightaway. “Our suppliers’ ability to deliver is extremely important to us,” the managing director explains. The company, part of the Siempelkamp Group, which supplies UL-tested switchgear to the US market on a large scale, is committed to meeting its deadlines.