Responding to
COVID-19
To Our Customers and Partners
Given the rapidly changing environment related to the spread of COVID-19, I want to provide an update on a number of important topics.
First, our plants are operational and producing at expected levels. Our teams in China, Italy, Spain and Germany are doing an excellent job working to fill your needs. While conditions in these countries are very challenging, our teams are working together in an inspiring way to serve you. As many of you know, transport throughout Europe is challenging as we see some transit delays and restrictions. The Silgan Dispensing team is working closely with the transport companies to minimize any impact on your orders.
Our plants in Brazil, Mexico and the United States are also fully operational and producing at expected levels. In these locations we are implementing the practices we learned from our experience in China and Italy to fully protect our people and our ability to operate.
I want to assure you, all of our employees respect the critical role our products play in the fight to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus. As such, we are taking great precaution to help our workers avoid exposure. We have instituted several new policies and action plans to protect our team and our ability to serve you. We are constantly monitoring the situation and adapting our protections based on what we learn from you, governmental and health officials.
The actions we have taken to date include the following.
Actions
Create a Safe Environment for Our Workers
We have implemented comprehensive maintenance routines at all of our sites and are asking all employees to follow CDC/WHO personal hygiene guidelines to assure their safety and health. We have eliminated all customer visits and have significantly limited supplier visits to emergency situations. We have instituted strict requirements for freight providers to ensure they follow our employee protection protocols and avoid contaminating our team and sites. And, we have instituted policies requiring quarantine for people who may have, or are confirmed to have had, exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual.
Travel
We have restricted all intercontinental travel and severely limited travel in general to only the most essential—to/from work; critical support situations. We are preparing to eliminate all travel and support you remotely.
Site & Plant Protection
All of our sites have a cross-functional Business Continuity Team trained in all aspects of site protection and management. The BCT leads site protection and implementation of our playbook for Prevention, Containment and Remediation.
Prevention
Comprehensive set of practices implemented at all sites to ensure a safe workplace.
Containment
Comprehensive situational playbook should there be a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
Remediation
Action plan to clean an area, or plant and ready for returning to operational production.
We feel that all of these actions, in combination, give us the best opportunity to maintain the safety of our employees, the condition of our plants and the responsiveness of your supply chain.
As the environment changes, we will continue to modify our actions to achieve those three objectives.
To keep spirits high, our team has adopted a motto “Today and Always, Together as a Team”. We see you, and your consumers, as a part of our Silgan Dispensing team. As such, we are committed to working together with you to serve your needs.
Thank you for your support and collaboration during this time. If you have questions, please contact any Silgan Dispensing team member.
Sincerely,
Kevin Clark
President, Silgan Dispensing Systems