Advanced Machinery Services
Almudena Navarro, marketing and social media manager

“We are open and operating at full capacity. During the ever changing situation surrounding COVID_19, we aim to keep our customers and suppliers informed. At present, our business is operating normally and we can assure you we are taking all recommended precautions advised the NHS and the Government.”

ATA Engineering
Mark Whitbread, director

“ATA Engineering is open for business.

We recognise, however, that our first duty is to play our full part in helping our country, and the wider world, get rid of the virus. So that we do, we are following all Government regulations and guidance: to protect ATA Engineering as a responsible employer, a good corporate citizen and as a business committed to supplying our customers with high quality and cost-effective cutting machines and tooling.

We operate with a very small, knowledgeable and committed team of people and, by combining rigorous social distancing measures with home working, we hope to continue delivering our usual service levels and expertise. 

“As part of our commitment to respond positively to the virus, we would also like to reassure new and existing customers that our pricing policy will remain competitive and transparent.

“We have a large stock of Tooling and can still ship on a next day delivery. Please email sales@ataeng.com for Prices and Availability. Businesses wishing to purchase from our full range of cutting machines, details of which can also be found on our website, are very welcome to contact us, either by email or phone during normal working hours. As ever, we look forward to meeting your business needs.

“Working within ongoing Government regulations and guidelines, we will continue to offer our both installation and maintenance services, subject to a detailed risk assessment designed to protect your staff, and ours.

“For up-to-date information about ATA during the coming weeks and months, please check our website:

We wish everyone, whether an old and valued client, a potential customer, our partners and suppliers, our competitors, and everyone’s families, all the very best in this difficult time.”

AXYZ Automation Group
Theresa Scarth, general manager

“In the currrent uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 virus, AXYZ Automation Group is doing everything possible to sustain nomal customer service. The main facility in Telford remains functional and all key management personnelare contactable either at Telford or for those currently working from home via their emails or direct mobile ‘phones. 

“Necessary machine spare parts, accessories and software will, as far as possible, remain available via the AXYZ CNCShop 24/7 online facility. 

“Thanks for your reassurance in these difficult times. It shows the strength of the client/supplier relationship we have built over the years.”

Bibielle UK
Tom Wright, sales director

“I’m sure you don’t need me to tell or inform you of the current difficult situation are country is currently facing. However, as a family-owned independent business and being able to react to difficult economic times, I think it is important to spread news that not all is bad and that we are ensuring we continue to support and supply the UK as we have done for the past 20 years. 

“With this in mind, I can tell you that we have significantly invested in raw material and finish stock of our abrasive products. This has taken our normal 3-4 month stock-holding to around 6-7 months. This in turn will ensure that customers’ businesses can continue to run as normal despite the current problems we are facing. 

“Our passion has always been about providing a great service along with a great performing product. However, this has no meaning if the health of the Bibielle team is suffering. We have also implemented extensive bacteria fighting agents throughout the company and are doing regular checks on staff to ensure this is being carried out. 

“I will leave you with a final message that should you have problems with stock, please get in touch and we will try our utmost to help. This is a difficult time for us all, let alone the additional pressures of trying to keep your business running and customers happy. I sincerely hope that with the plans we have carried out, we can be a valued supplier to your operation not only today, but in the very distant future. Stay safe.”

Biesse UK
Andrew Baker

“Despite the ever escalating situation regarding Coronavirus COVID-19, Biesse Group guarantees spare parts, services and delivery of machines despite a slowdown at our production facilities. Please allow for potential delays during this time. We wish you health and safety during these difficult times.”

Blum UK
David Sanders, sales and marketing director

“Following our update from Monday, we would like to again take this opportunity to inform you of how the current COVID 19 situation is affecting our operations at Blum.

“The fast-spreading coronavirus is clearly at the front of everyone’s minds at the moment. The next few weeks will be very challenging for us all – not only for the health of our society but also from an economic perspective.

“As we affirmed previously protecting the health of our employees is of utmost importance to us, and by taking the correct steps now we can ensure we remain a trusted partner for you.

“From Friday 20th March we have made the decision that all those who are able to will work from home. This will not affect our usual services; calls to our reception will still be answered, orders are still being processed and despatched, and our external sales and technical teams are still available for any queries you may have. 

“Our updated contact details during this period are as follows:

Accounts and general queries: contact our reception team on 01908 285700. Messages will be passed to the relevant department, who will return your call. For technical queries: Please email technical.uk@blum.com or call 0800 230 0898. Order and sales queries: contact your Blum sales representative. 

“Alternatively, contact our reception team. Stay in touch; we are still here to help you during this difficult time. Together we will find a solution through personal conversations, by telephone or video…and we are confident that through these conversations we will all be able to rise to the challenge.”

Daltons Wadkin
Alex Dalton​, director

“Amid the coronavirus global outbreak, Daltons Wadkin has implemented a COVID-19 specific working policy. We plan to continue operating as usual where possible, ensuring service is maintained through this difficult time. While taking our own precautions, we are following Government advice on the best course of action to protect our staff and customers. 

“We have reduced direct contact with customers where possible and reduced travel, opting for conference calls and virtual meetings instead. To protect our engineers and training staff while working on-site, we have instructed them on safe working practices to enable them to carry out their duties.

“While we are preparing for the economic impact of the virus, we are thus far pleased to report a resilient customer base who are as keen as we are to maintain business as usual. New machinery orders are still being placed with an emphasis on labour saving, cost reducing equipment such as automatic crosscut saws, CNC routers and panel saws. Planned installations are carrying on, albeit under tighter controls.”

Ferwood UK 
John Wilson, managing director

“Ferwood are doing all we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although our showroom is closed and we have suspended our sales visits, we are all available by phone, email and Skype to assist in any way we can. 

“Our service department can still be contacted by phone and our dial-in assistance is uninterrupted. 

“For emergency breakdown and replacement machines we are offering limited on site assistance and machine rental programmes.”

Hexagon (Cabinet Vision and Alphacam) 
Paolo Guglielmini, President of Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division is offering a range of free offline licensing and remote access options designed to enable efficient home working for woodworking professionals facing new productivity challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Home working options will be provided for Hexagon’s production software and metrology software offerings, as well as the MSC Software range of CAE solutions, at least until 30 June 2020. Users will also have access to additional online learning resources.

This includes licence move, remote access or additional temporary home office licences for Hexagon’s Alphacam and Cabinet Vision.

“The purpose of our smart manufacturing solutions is to improve quality and productivity and this challenge is especially acute during this time of extensive home working” said Paolo Guglielmini, President of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. “So, to support the industries we serve, we’re offering special access to our software and learning tools for both current customers and non-customers who can benefit from our technology.”

“Like many businesses in the manufacturing sector, we have many employees working from home at the moment and we appreciate that giving them the right tools to work remotely is essential to their wellbeing and success. By offering learning and remote working solutions I hope we can contribute to maintaining productivity and quality while keeping employees in manufacturing safe.”

Details on how to access the home working packages can be found at www.hexagonmi.com/wahs. The offering will include:

  • Extension of licences for work-from-home support or alternative access options for MSC Software CAE solutions
  • Licence move, remote access or additional temporary home office licences for Hexagon’s CAD CAM software such as Alphacam and Cabinet Vision
  • Free offline licences of the latest versions of PC-DMIS and other leading metrology software
  • Free remote machine monitoring via the HxGN SFx | Asset Management asset performance management solution
  • Free access to online learning for Hexagon’s metrology and MSC Software solutions

Although Hexagon employees are also working remotely, service and support remains in operation. Full details are available from local offices.

JJ Smith
Rachael Baker, commercial director

“We know that our customers will be worried about the current outbreak, but here at JJ Smith we want to reassure you that we have a continuity plan in place that will enable us to continue to support your business and maintain a sense of normality while ensuring the safety of all our employees. We are following all Government guidance with regards to health and hygiene measures. We have a series of technological solutions in place to enable us to continue to communicate, so if you need to speak to us about anything please continue to get in touch! 

“J J Smith is now working remotely – our office and factory are closed.  We can be contacted by your usual contact, or via sales@jjsmith.co.uk  For urgent matters please call +44 7810 838330 or +44 7768 701432. 

“Most of our suppliers in the UK and Europe are now either totally or partially closed, so scheduled deliveries will be delayed. Once the position is clearer we will be in touch to reschedule your equipment or parts delivery. Whilst maintenance on site has not been specifically mentioned by the government, JJ Smith has taken the view that in order to minimise the social contact that our staff have, we are not able to offer site visits by our staff or engineers.  This includes all installation, guarantee and service work. 

“We appreciate some companies are still working and should you have reason to believe your business circumstances mean that you are working in an essential industry – for example doing urgent building work for a hospital, then please contact our Service Manager Jane Reid who has been authorised to make limited exceptions. We appreciate that this could well be seriously inconvenient, but in the circumstances we feel it is an appropriate measure. We will keep in close contact to update you once the situation changes. 

“In this fast-changing situation, we will continue to adapt as required. J J Smith has weathered many challenges over our 97 year history and we look forward to working through the challenges that Covid-19 present to us. We wish all of our customers and suppliers well during this time.”

Lamello UK and Ireland
Shaye Chatfield, Lamello area sales manager

“After detailed discussions with our suppliers, we are not currently expecting any bottlenecks in our supply chain. Thanks to our high level of in-house production and our warehouse capacity, we are confident that we can continue to supply our products on time. 

“Lamello has been running for 50 years and with that, comes an exceptional level of experience working in this industry. We are committed to the industry and to our customers and because of this, we’re here to help in the best way we can. Our advice is, if you have a question, however big or small, contact us. We are here to help. 

We thank everyone for their cooperation and trust during these challenging times. 

Lawcris Panel Products
Lauren Barker, head of marketing and communications

“In these unprecedented times, many companies, including Lawcris Panel Products, are trying to maintain business as usual. As companies adjust in ways previously unimaginable, businesses are really stepping up and adapting to these changes, with modified company practices, flexible policies and remote working.

“Wood based panel distributors, Lawcris, admit that the “new way of working” has been tough to adjust to, but their staff continue to work in this new way with negligible disruption and, for now, its operation continues as normal.

“Lawcris continue to keep high stock levels in line with their customer demand, with no dramatic impact yet on the supply chain in this period of uncertainty. Although, this is constantly being evaluated and looked at on a daily basis.

“As much as possible, Lawcris continue to offer their important services which will help the industry at this time, including the ability to order up to 6pm for next day delivery. Their 40+ vehicles are working tirelessly, offering tailored solutions to make sure customers receive their products in a way that works for them, according to their health and safety procedures.

“Lauren Barker, head of marketing and communications, says “ Keeping communications flowing with customers and employees about what the business is doing to deal with the crisis is an important way to prevent disruption to daily operations. We try to assist customers with a steady stream of information, allowing them and their customers to remain calm.”.

“The company encourages any customers with concerns to get in touch and discuss how bespoke delivery arrangements could work for them.”

Masterwood
Dave Kennard, sales director    

“Due to the full shutdown in Italy, Masterwood Spa has had to close their factory this week. There are some staff operating from home for support, however this will result in delays for customers.  With the ever-changing situation, the Masterwood GB office currently remains open on a skeleton staff level to help support any of our customers where they are doing essential work.  

“We have asked our technicians for their availability in these difficult times and will respect their decisions of when and where they will work, so if you are requesting one of our technicians than please make sure that it is for essential work only.  If any customer requires support for machine parts or repairs that are considered urgent then please contact the main Masterwood GB office and they will do all that is possible to help you in the shortest possible time, however resourcing parts could be difficult in some cases.   

“Our priority at this time is the health of, not only our own staff, but those of our customers. Masterwood GB will support any customers doing vital work to the best of our ability in this difficult time.

Ostermann
Stephen Parsons, managing director UK

“The Corona crisis is not only a national, but a global challenge for all of us. Since we at Ostermann also see ourselves as obliged to make our contribution to curbing the further spread of COVID-19, we quickly installed a crisis management unit and have already taken numerous measures. We are doing everything in our power to maintain Ostermann’s supply capacity:

“It is important to us to inform you that Ostermann can continue to deliver consistently, despite the far-reaching consequences of COVID-19 for UK and all of Europe. All orders for goods in stock are processed and dispatched within the usual delivery times. Our central warehouse in Bocholt/Germany remains open, as well as our UK warehouse, and we ship goods to all of Europe as usual. Our sales team is there for you at the usual opening times and will be happy to advise you.

“Via our online shop or our app, you can order our entire range 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even from home. We continue to provide you with Europe’s largest range of edgings, containing the matching edgings to furniture surfaces of more than 70 board suppliers. Among these, you will also find the edgings to the new Egger Decorative Collection 2020-22. These are available from stock, and from a length of only one metre.”

“Due to current circumstances though, service restrictions, for example from our service providers, may occur in the next few days and weeks.

TM Machinery & TM Services
Q&A with Matt Pearce, managing director

TM was originally founded to service the industry. How is this helping the the business during this time? 

“Service is at the heart of everything we do and because of this, we have a dedicated team on standby to help our customers with whatever problems they face. 

“Offering remote technical support and guidance is what we do as a business. Our technical team and service engineers know our product ranges inside out and back to front and because of this, we have decades of experience resolving technical issues remotely. Our approach to service significantly reduces the number of revisits our engineers need to undertake. This will help greatly during this time.”

What solutions are TM offering to those with technical and maintenance issues during this time? 

“We are continuing to offer a remote service to give our customers peace of mind during this time of uncertainty. Our team is available on the phone or via email during normal working hours and is experienced in talking through a range of technical and administrative questions.”  

Will spare parts or deliveries be affected in any way? 

“We offer a full parts service and have a wide range of parts in stock and available for delivery. There is currently no interruption to the supply of spare parts and the shipping of goods hasn’t been restricted. Plus, because of the volume of spares we hold in stock, we’re confident we can cope with an interruption of two to three months.” 

Finance is a huge worry for all businesses and individuals at this time. Is TM offering any additional support to its customers? 

“We are all in this together and we realise that people’s cashflows will be affected in different ways. If you are struggling, you need to tell us about it as quickly as possible. Please don’t shy away from this. The sooner we know about the problem, the quicker we can help you. We’ll assess each customer on a case-by-case basis and be as flexible as we can to find a solution. Don’t suffer in silence.” 

For those waiting for a machine to be delivered by TM Machinery, will their delivery date be affected?  

“We work closely with our customers throughout the sales and installation process and keep them informed every step of the way. This won’t change. For those companies that want to change their installation date, we are happy to hold machines in our warehouse until they are ready for them to be installed. We have the capacity to do this if required and feel that giving customers this option is essential in the current climate.” 

What words of support and encouragement can you give to your customers and the industry during this time? 

“I think it’s important for our customers to know that we are not going anywhere and will be here if and when they need us. We have a framework in place that allows us to work remotely with minimal disruption to our business and we are continuing to work in this way.

“We are committed to our customers, our team and the industry so, while it’s uncertain how long this will last, you can be certain that TM will be here for you now and in the future.”

Montgomery Group Design & Build Division & The W Exhibition 
Nickie West, managing director

“Like many organisations during this time, we are working hard to safeguard the health of our teams, who are all now working remotely. Whilst there is a lot of uncertainty around the full impact of Coronavirus, it is still very much business as usual behind the scenes for The W Exhibition. 

“We are working hard to ensure that we deliver a first class event when we open the doors on The W Exhibition 2020 in September. We remain focused on delivering the best W Exhibition yet. This includes developing new event features, such as our CPD Approved learning programme and increasing focus on attracting new talent into the industry to help bridge the skills gap. 

“We have been overwhelmed by the hugely positive support that we have received for The W Exhibition 2020, with over 85% of stands sold and a good proportion of new companies who are set to make their debut in September. 

“We appreciate that this is a global concern which is rapidly evolving each day. We are particularly mindful of the impact that this pandemic may have on our exhibitors and the wider industry - we extend our full support and sympathies to them.  

“We wholeheartedly believe that the exhibition will present an ideal platform to help the market and economy recover at the speed that it will need to. We also suspect that there may be a degree of caution around visiting European trade shows for some time to come which will make our National platform more important than ever for our industry. 

“We are keeping a close eye on the situation with Covid-19 and we are working closely with the venue and key stakeholders to ensure we deliver a great event.”

Michael Weinig UK
Malcolm Cuthbertson, MD explains the measures Weinig UK has put in place to support and guide its customers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in 1905, how is Weinig’s experience in the industry helping the business react to the COVID-19 pandemic? 

“We’ve been in business 114 years and have overcome a lot in our time, including two world wars and several global recessions that have threatened our industry. By living through these challenging times and adopting a long-term business framework, our company is resilient, resourceful and highly adaptable to the changing climate we find ourselves in today. 

“In short, this means we’ve been able to modify our business practises quickly so we can focus on the important thing: our customers.”

What actions are being taken by Weinig UK to continue offering the best service it can to its customers? 

“Without our team, there is no Weinig UK. That’s why our staff’s health is paramount during this time. We are following the advice given by the government and World Health Organisation and, if these continue to change, so do our processes. 

“We have put a strategic framework in place to accommodate this that we believe will allow us to continue to offer a comprehensive service to our customers.” 

What support are you offering to customers with technical and maintenance issues? 

“We don’t want our customers to be penalised for doing the right thing. That’s why we’re rolling out free remote assistance to all Weinig UK customers. This means, regardless of the aftercare package you have with us, our UK technical hotline, UK online support services and UK customer service team will be available on the phone, on skype or on email to help you resolve any issues you may face. 

“This remote service will be able to help our customers navigate technical or maintenance issues, with engineers also being able to run diagnostic checks remotely, eliminating the need for visits.” 

If customers are struggling financially, what should they do? 

“The most important thing our customers need to do if they are experiencing any financially difficulty, is talk to us. We are here for them and we don’t want anyone to struggle in silence. 

“We want to understand the problems businesses may be facing and help to resolve the issues the best we can. It’s in our interest to help our customers through these challenging times. Remember, communication is key and we’re here for you every step of the way.” 

For those customers expecting a Weinig or Holz-Her machine to be delivered in the coming days or weeks, what advice do you have for them? 

“We are continuing to keep in contact with our customers during this time and we will share updates as regularly as possible. If customers have any concerns regarding their order or the installation of their machine, our customer service team is on hand to answer any questions.”

What advice can you give to your customers during this time?

“We are here to support you. We know that by working together, we can overcome the difficulties we all face in these uncertain times. We find ourselves in unprecedented times but this doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of these quieter periods. 

“Use this time to think strategically about your future and engage in discussions with Weinig UK remotely about your company’s future.

“We don’t just sell machinery. We offer advice to help our customers improve their manufacturing cycle and productivity rates. Regardless of where we are in the country, you can still have a detailed conversation with a member of our team about the best way forward for your business without any sales pressure whatsoever.

“The industry will bounce back from this and we want to ensure that all Weinig UK customers hit the ground running when it does!"