As we pause for breath and look back at 2020, it goes without saying that the coronavirus pandemic defined our year, as it did for businesses in every industry. Advanced Materials and the silicone rubber manufacturing sector were no different in this respect.
Covid-19 turned the world on its head, redefining what many markets looked like and how they operated. It tested planning, infrastructure, and acumen like nothing ever done before. We’re proud to say that in the face of such a test, we rose to the challenge.
Covid-19 and how we have reacted to the changes
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK in the spring of 2020 and the first lockdown was announced, we were quick to react and put in place measures to protect our staff and our customers.
Of course, as a silicone rubber manufacturer, we were not able to switch fully to remote working; however we were able to offer this to some of our office team. For the remaining team we overhauled our facilities and operating practices so that the members of our team could continue to work on-site, do their jobs and take a break in a COVID-secure way, including at a safe distance and with access to sanitation stations.
During this period, our team was exceptional, showing flexibility and resilience. Their fortitude and dedication to ensuring that we continued to operate safely whilst continuing to serve our customers and provide them with the high standard of service for which we are known was humbling.
This commitment and investment stood us in good stead as the second lockdown was announced. We knew that we had the workforce and the infrastructure to keep us moving forward.
The impact of Covid-19 on us and the silicone rubber manufacturing industry
The impact of Covid-19 on our business was varied, with the pandemic affecting our customers in different ways. While demand fell initially from our transport-related industry clients, there was a spike in orders from customers in the food, pharmaceutical and medical industries.
These developments reflected the impact of the pandemic on industry and the economy in general and we were able to react quickly to these changes, accommodating the increase in order volumes from specific industries. This was possible, due to the hard work and commitment of our staff and because of the framework and planning that we had in place.
Notably, our ability to offer expertise and high-quality products to customers in a wide variety of industries was critical to our reaction to Covid-19. Our range of clients – from medical companies to manhole manufacturers – were crucial to how we performed in 2020.
While not yet back to historic levels, order volumes recovered and stabilised significantly by the end of 2020. Notably, we saw rising demand for bespoke silicone components, which was a development that validated our focus on improving our processes and our efficiency, and investing in new machinery and production software.
An exceptional year for silicone rubber manufacturing and our view on the future
It was undoubtedly a tough year. We faced many challenges and there were tough decisions to make, but we remained resilient, and we dealt well with the events of the year. It put us in a strong position as we prepared to embark on a new year of growth and progress.
As we look ahead, despite the challenges presented by Covid-19 and Brexit, we are optimistic about the future. We are prepared – we have a committed workforce, we have good relationships with our customers and suppliers, and we continue to target growth. We are ready to take the opportunities and deal with the challenges that the future presents.
To find out more about Advanced Materials’ silicone rubber manufacturing services, contact us on +44 (0)1903 713566 or sales@amsilicones.co.uk.