Suppliers roll out new initiatives to help coronavirus-hit printers

GMG Color UK has started providing a remote proofing service
GMG Color UK has started providing a remote proofing service

A number of industry suppliers have launched new initiatives to help their customers during the coronavirus pandemic, while others have updated on their current supply chain situations.

Hybrid Software said it is offering free software licenses of its Packz product to all existing Packz customers. The company sent an email out to its customers that said: “As you may be aware, at Hybrid Software we allow our customers to control and move Packz licenses around in times of emergency.

“Even this flexibility isn't enough during this challenging and disruptive period that we find ourselves in today. Therefore we would like to offer you free additional temporary Packz licenses for Mac or PC to help your teams work from home should this be required.”

GMG Color UK, meanwhile, said it has started providing a remote proofing service to help businesses to remain operational.

The colour management company will assist with proofing requirements for those who can’t access large-format printers in their premises, on a pay per proof basis, and said it will endeavour to ship within one working day of receiving files.

GMG managing director Karl Gessner said: “We understand that everyone is experiencing significant disruption in these challenging times, and as such would like to support our valued customers and the industry as a whole in ensuring business continues where possible.

“We are also able to facilitate remote proofing using GMG systems in European countries including Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, and would be happy to make introductions.”

Other suppliers have been amassing extra stocks of popular products to minimise the disruption to their customers.

Wide-format specialist CMYUK recently said it had increased stocks of Pongs textiles in all of its UK warehouse locations and said customers could be reassured that all of the best-selling Pongs products “will be in plentiful supply both now and in the foreseeable future”.

Sun Chemical has been issuing regular statements on how the coronavirus situation is impacting its global supply chain, the first in early February.

In its latest update, the printing ink giant's chief supply chain officer Jeffrey Shaw said: “While some regions in the world continue to improve, other regions are facing unprecedented challenges. At Sun Chemical, we continue to monitor our global supply chain, proactively manage each of our sites and warehouses, and frequently communicate with our supply base.

“At this time our manufacturing and warehouse sites continue to operate, raw materials continue to flow, and logistics providers continue to ship materials in a timely manner. With new governmental regulations enforced and varying restrictions in place around the world, we continue to work with all our stakeholders to make sure the fulfilment process works in an undisrupted manner.

"We have a vast global network in place to manage these changes and an integrated supply chain approach. Inventory levels remain in place while we continue to fulfil customer orders. In the event of further changes, we will work with customers to make sure we provide the best level of service.”

Has your business been affected by any supply chain issues so far? Comment below or email printweek.newsdesk@markallengroup.com.