Ukraine crisis: digital manufacturers take action

Fujifilm is donating $2m to help humanitarian efforts
Fujifilm is donating $2m to help humanitarian efforts

Xerox, Fujifilm and HP are the latest industry manufacturers to take action over Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Xerox issued a statement yesterday (13 March) about the ongoing conflict.  

It said: “We are closely following the devastating conflict in Ukraine and are supporting humanitarian efforts while doing everything we can to keep our employees in the region safe.  

Using our Employee Relief Fund, we’ve provided cash grants to each employee in Ukraine. Xerox has also provided additional contributions to the Red Cross and Save the Children, our international relief partners. ”

Xerox said that it had stopped all shipments to Russia at the onset of the conflict, and was “complying with all applicable government-issued sanctions”. 

“We continue to closely monitor events and will adapt our response accordingly. We hope for a quick restoration of peace.”

Xerox lists offices in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Lviv, Mariupol, Odesa and Sumy on its Ukrainian website.

The group also has operations in seven locations across Russia. 

Meanwhile, HP CEO Enrique Lores spoke about the unfolding situation in Ukraine at an investor briefing following the group’s Q2 results announcement. 

He said: “The wellbeing of our people, their families and our customers and partners is our top concern. 

“We are doing everything we can to keep them safe. We want nothing more than to see peace and stability restored to the region.

He said HP had an experienced cross-functional team in place, focused on business continuity. 

“The environment is very fluid and we are preparing for a range of scenarios,” Lores explained. 

HP has also suspended shipments to Russia in compliance with the US administration’s recently approved sanctions, and has paused all Russian marketing and advertising activities.

“The difficult situation is the latest in a series of global challenges we have faced. Time and again our team has shown remarkable agility and determination and I have great confidence in their ability to manage this situation,” he stated. 

The HP Foundation is also providing grants to support Ukrainian relief efforts – working with NGOs such as UNICEF, UNHCR and the Polish Red Cross. HP will also match all donations made through the HP Giving and Volunteering programme.

Japanese manufacturer Fujifilm has announced it will donate $2m (£1.53m) to help  the people of Ukraine – $1m to support humanitarian efforts and $1m in medical equipment. 

CEO Teiichi Goto said $1m in funding would go to UNHCR and UNICEF “for use in supporting humanitarian relief efforts”. 

The $1m-worth of medical equipment being donated includes Fujifilm’s portable X-ray system and hand-held wireless ultrasound devices to help provide medical care to the affected population in Ukraine.

“Fujifilm Holdings and its group companies long for a peaceful world and safe, healthy communities, and do not condone, under any circumstances, aggression, violence, or war,” Goto said. 

Fujifilm has pressed pause on its business dealings in Russia, with the exception of operations that are indispensable to medical care. 

The company stated: “Our first priority however has been the safety and wellbeing of our Ukrainian members of staff, who operated out of a small subsidiary in Kyiv. Through Fujifilm Poland we are providing constant support those affected. The sales operation in Ukraine has stopped as a result of the conflict.”