It is business as usual (as far as possible) for HV Power. One of our customers considers us to be a supplier to an essential service, and the supply chain to them must remain. Therefore, we will continue to accept and process orders, and provide technical support throughout the Level 4 lock-down period.
We respect our staff’s desires to be with their families at this time. Where possible they will be working from home, but our standard phone and email contacts will still work. They also have remote access into our business systems. Our support staff have taken their favourite test platforms with them, so they can use those for support purposes. Where work is required in our factory, or inventory is to be shipped, this will be limited to essential works, with work spaces reorganised to allow increased separation of staff.
Please contact the Directors of HV Power (Mike Strong, Warwick Beech) if you have any questions regarding essential supply chain issues for your network.
Looking at our supply chain, there have been some delays to switchgear deliveries, but Siemens’ China factory is getting back up and running. As most switchgear is sent via sea freight from China and takes a while to get here, we have not been badly affected to date. However, we have just had the last of China ‘pre-shut-down’ equipment arrive, so there will be a dip in our supply chain for about 6 weeks due to the disruption in China. We have shifted some orders to the German factory, but due to the large spike in their factory demand and with more restrictions occurring in Germany, the outcome is that China deliveries are offering the best solution.
Some technology product lines have been affected by a couple of weeks of delay. Labour restrictions in Germany may have some upcoming effect. Some of our suppliers are also noticing the knock-on effect of delayed subcomponents sourced from China. However, the main effect to date is the longer airfreight transit times. This is due to less planes flying and non-perishable freight being ‘bumped’ in favour of perishable goods.
It’s an evolving situation with everyone doing their best. It is really hard to give reliable delivery advice with so many variables and unknowns in the mix. We’ll keep you updated as we find out more.
|