Schib Lends Equipment to Package Face Masks
Apr 22, 2020
Schib, one of BW Flexible Systems' trusted flexible packaging brands, is lending one of their CO-50 flow wrapper packaging machines free-of-charge to an Italian contractor to help package face masks intended to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Located in northern Italy, an area hit hard by the coronavirus, Schib has been designated an essential supplier to the food and non-food industries, and as such this factory has continued to operate at full production to keep up with demand.
In these extraordinary times, companies are taking extraordinary measures. Around the world manufacturers have come forward to assist in the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), refitting existing production lines for their new tasks.
When Schib's leadership team learned that a local business would be focusing on producing the much-needed face masks for the global market, they wanted to help.
Alessandro Stiffan, Schib's General Manager, recalls how the arrangement came to pass:
“During a call with our Italian Sales Executive, Fharid Peron, we learned that there was a contractor near Malo, where we are based, who was converting his production of textile finishing products to the production of face masks. He contacted Fharid to find out if it was possible to package the face masks. His intention was not to purchase the machine but wondered if there was anything we could do to help.”
“Knowing the huge need for masks in Italy at that time, I didn’t think twice,” Stiffan continues. “We already had a Schib CO-50 machine available—a good fit for packaging face masks.”
Fharid Peron reached out with a Loan for Use agreement that provided the equipment free-of-charge.
“I’m so happy that we could lend one of our packaging machines to support a local initiative in the production of face masks,” said Peron. “And, I’m proud to be part of the BW team, which is trying to make a difference during these very difficult times.”
The Schib CO-50 flow wrapper is now installed and running in the Italian production facility to package face masks and combat the spread of COVID-19 around the world.
“This was a chance for us to contribute to our entire community where we live in this unbelievable period,” Stiffan emphasises. “ In my mind, this was a clear application of our Guiding Principles of Leadership and our Safety Covenant: to foster care and safe practices within our families and communities, we measure our success by the way we touch the lives of people. It was our call and we responded. It is a tiny contribution, but every little counts when there is an emergency.”
ABOUT SCHIB
Schib was founded in 1968. It designs and manufactures automatic packaging lines and a comprehensive range of flow wrapper packaging solutions for diverse industries, from food sectors, such as confectionery, biscuits and bakery, to non-food sectors, including personal care, household items and industrial components. The Schib brand of machines includes models with top or bottom mounted film roll, featuring rotary jaws, D-cam, box motion or guillotine sealing system. Learn more: Schib @ BWFlexibleSystems.com