Covid-19: Current situation, as of 8.4.2020

^{Changes to the previous day are marked in italics.}
Status: igus, Cologne currently delivers without restrictions from stock. Subsidiaries in Italy, Spain, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and Vietnam only for essential deliveries. Due to our second source supplier strategy, we see no disruptions of our deliveries at this time.

EuropeGermany
All known precautionary measures recommended by the authorities are implemented at the Cologne igus headquarters. Since 13.03.2020 all employees, for whom this is possible, have been working preventively in the home office. You can still reach each employee as usual by telephone, e-mail or chat. We currently do not receive external visitors.
In production, staff density was reduced by changing shifts and all employees wear face masks in order to further minimise the risk of infection. We have also set up five additional, temporary canteens in order to implement the recommended distances and hygiene regulations there as well. In some cases, we feel a trend to bring forward orders or an order "for immediate".  We try everything to realise customer wishes accordingly. If necessary, we will inform you about what we can do.
The supply chains for our production in Cologne are intact, so there have been no delays so far. We are also able to ensure local supply nationwide thanks to our warehouses in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, USA, Brazil, UK and Poland. The corresponding stocks are planned for 8 - 10 weeks.

Here you will find all the measures we have taken in Cologne in detail.​​​​​​​

Italy
Due to the high relevance of igus products, e.g. for the medical and food sector, production at igus in Italy will start again with approx. 50% of the staff from Wednesday, 8.4.20. In addition to the full availability of staff in home offices, a core workforce will also be available in sales/administration. Our subsidiary in Italy has been closed since 26.03.2020 due to government regulations.

Spain
Since 30.03.2020 most of the companies in Spain have been closed due to government orders. Our employees work in the home office and can still be contacted for orders or technical questions through the known channels. Orders are shipped directly from our factory in Cologne to Spanish customers. Only import and freight forwarding may be delayed.

UK
The Northampton facility is open as always, Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and anything in stock is shipped in 24 hours. Deliveries to customers continue as usual. The majority of employees work in the home office. All the igus sales team are available for a “virtual visit”. igus UK is currently not receiving any visitors.

All other countries in Europe
In most European countries, all or most of the employees work in the home office. You can reach all local colleagues via the usual communication channels. Orders ship directly from Cologne. Only import and freight forwarding may be delayed.

AsiaChina
The igus factory in China is running normally again. No employee at the Shanghai factory was infected. Some of the salesmen are allowed to travel again.

India
igus® India is closed by official order from 24.3.2020. All local employees are in the home office and can be reached through the usual communication channels. Orders for essentially necessary productions, such as medical technology, are still permitted and can also be made by direct delivery from Germany.

Japan
A major part of the employees works in the home office and can be reached via the usual contact channels. Our field service is still allowed to travel, but visits are being reduced and increasingly replaced by virtual visits. Delivery times have not yet been delayed. Deliveries are made from our factory in the province of Tochigi. Direct deliveries from Germany are possible at any time.

Korea
Almost all igus Korea employees work in the home office. Each employee can be reached as usual by telephone or e-mail. Personal consultation is also possible via online channels such as KakaoTalk and Skype video consultation.

Malaysia
igus Malaysia is closed by official order until 13.4.2020. All local employees are in the home office and can be reached via the usual communication channels. Orders for essentially necessary productions, such as medical technology, are still permitted and can be placed via the central warehouse in Singapore or can also be delivered directly from Germany.

Singapore
Since 7.4.2020, all companies in Singapore that are not relevant to the system will be closed until 4.5.2020 due to government regulations. igus Singapore, as a component supplier for medical technology and other critical applications, has applied for an exemption. Our employees work in the home office and can still be contacted for orders or technical questions via the known channels. As of today, production is running in 2-shift operation to minimise contacts. Orders will continue to be shipped as before. There may only be delays in import and freight forwarding.

Vietnam
The government in Vietnam has ordered the shut-down of all companies from 1.4.2020. Our employees will continue to be available in their home office, deliveries can be made from the central warehouse in Singapore or directly from Germany.

All other countries in Asia
Precautionary and preventive measures were taken in all subsidiaries. We adhere closely to local regulations and decide on further measures on a daily basis to protect employees from infection and keep supply chains intact.

Africaigus South Africa will be closed for 21 days by official order from 26.3.2020. All local employees are in the home office and can be reached through the usual communication channels. Orders for essentially necessary productions, such as medical technology, are still permitted locally and can also be made by direct delivery from Germany. www.sacoronavirus.co.za

North and South AmericaUSA
Our US subsidiary is located in the corona hotspot between the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and had its first case of a positively tested employee. The entire building was immediately disinfected in close cooperation with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) according to a strict protocol. The health of our employees has the highest priority. Therefore, as a further preventive measure, we have reduced the number of people in the factory to an absolute minimum. We are thus able to maintain urgent deliveries for so-called essential companies, i.e. medical technology, agricultural industry, food industry, power plants, oil and gas companies, etc., and ensure the greatest possible protection of our employees. All office and field staff will continue to work from their home office and can be reached on the regular igus telephone numbers, by e-mail or via our video conference or chat channels. If the situation allows, the staff will be gradually increased again over the next few days. We plan to return to our regular staffing levels by Monday, April 20.


Brazil
At the igus subsidiary in Brazil, the majority of the employees work in the home office.  All local colleagues can be reached via the familiar communication channels. Logistics has so far functioned without restrictions. In the blog you will find current information from our colleagues in Brazil.