The corona pandemic is leaving a trail of devastation in its wake in numerous branches of industry worldwide. Government-imposed curfews and restrictions on mobility, including cross-border movement, and the complete or partial closures of companies are causing considerable disruption within the tightly woven international supply chains.
In many countries, packaging has already been identified as a relevant part of the system for supplying the population with food and healthcare and pharmaceutical products and is accordingly exempted from state-imposed restrictions. Consequently, grocery stores, chemists and pharmacies are staying open for business to ensure the public is kept supplied with the packaged food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products it needs.
However, the closure of shops such as hairdressers and make-up parlours in the haircare and beauty sector is reflected in the declining demand from numerous clients in the aerosol can industry and in their ordering behaviour. Furthermore, uncertainty on the part of the general public, reduced working hours and job losses are also having an impact on consumer purchasing. Panic buying of food, sanitising products, hand creams and soaps is being offset by cost-cutting measures for other products, such as cosmetics, which lose their fundamental importance for many consumers during times of crisis.
“Despite all the adversities caused by the crisis, though, the continued operation of food and chemists' shops and pharmacies coupled with the packaging industry being recognised as an important part of system-relevant supply chains means that, with a few exceptions in certain countries, the industry is far less affected by the cuts than other industrial sectors,” says AEROBAL’s president Leopold Werdich. “Certain market segments are even enjoying something of a temporary boom in demand.”
The explosive increase in the production of disinfectants worldwide, for example, is also creating unexpected business opportunities for manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans. The relevance of pharmaceutical products that are indispensable for the patients who use them, such as asthma sprays and other medical care products, really manifests itself during crises like the one at present.
Manufacturers of aluminium aerosol cans offer safe and reliable and easy-to-handle solutions for numerous hygiene and pharmaceutical products that meet the highest hygienic requirements and take clients’ sustainability concepts into account.
“While making the health of our own workforce a priority, our industry will do its best to make a responsible contribution to ensuring the public has an uninterrupted supply of these important products,” adds Leopold Werdich.
