Page 28 - Packaging News Magazine July-Aug 2020
P. 28

  MACHINERY MATTERS
         Navigating our way through lingering Covid-19 challenges
Welcome to the latest edition of Machinery Matters, brought to you by the APPMA in an exclusive partnership with PKN Packaging News. As we enter the second half of the calendar year, a new financial year for many, we see both state and federal government restrictions continue to lift, however, the challenges from Covid-19 will continue to linger well into the future. A return to some sort of normality does not mean everything is suddenly “normal”. Business doors may be swinging back open, but undertakings from the supply chain to the final customer won’t instantly resume at full pace.
This is hopefully the only instance in our lifetime where governments around the world have been dealing with two significant, intertwined and challenging events: primarily, protecting the health and wellbeing of every person on the planet, and consequently, with activities then altered as a result, creating economic impacts leading to the risk of a global recession.
While Australia continues to remain well positioned to protect our population from Covid-19, the broader issues of mental health and wellbeing, financial security and economic recovery will take some time to overcome.
There is no doubt Australia’s manufacturing industry will play a major role in both the economic-recovery process and the longer-term strategic position of Australia as an independent nation.
A need to innovate operations, working environments, communications and production is a must. What will be the new normal and what changes remain will only become evident over time; however, what is certain is that reviving the status quo does not appear to be an option in the post Covid-19 world.
You may have seen on our social media channels that APPMA has been working to help members and the industry at large through the worst of the pandemic lockdown. We have now shifted our focus to helping members and the industry through this next phase of bringing business back up to speed, and helping members understand and work through the implications created by Covid-19. The APPMA board and management team are focused on developing additional support services to achieve this. One example is a webinar series we launched in May, which has seen growing attendance. Links for past sessions are on the APPMA website under “Previous Webinars”; keep your eye out for upcoming webinars under the “Events & Training” page.
CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS
The impact of Covid-19 on events, conferences and exhibitions represents a continued challenge for all industries in both timing and form. Virtual attendance for all these, as well as training, could indeed be part of the future.
We all watched as events large and small had to be postponed or cancelled. Interpack 2020 is now postponed to late February 2021, although at the time of writing, ProPak Asia in October, followed by Chicago’s PACK EXPO International in November, remain on the calendar. With overseas travel to and from Australia remaining unlikely until after Christmas, attendance and participation from Australian-based business is unfortunately unlikely.
However, on a highly positive note: preparations for AUSPACK 2021 in May, and all Packaging and Processing Week events – including the Business and Industry Conference and the APPMA Awards of Excellence – are on track, with many exciting announcements due over the coming months.
Along with the entire APPMA Board and management team, I am looking forward to being able to re-engage at a face-to-face event. May 2021 will provide a great springboard for companies across our whole industry.
Until then, please stay safe and well.
MARK DINGLEY, CHAIRMAN
CONNECT WITH APPMA
There are various ways to stay in touch with APPMA, including our website appma.com.au and social media.
  “There is no doubt Australia’s manufacturing industry will play a major role in both the economic- recovery process and the longer-term strategic position of Australia as an independent nation.”
    028 JULY-AUGUST 2020 WWW.PACKAGINGNEWS.COM.AU
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