Davis-Standard announced that in light of recent announcements related to COVID-19 and “shelter in place” requirements, it is confirming that the company has been identified as an Essential Business and will continue to operate to produce equipment required for the manufacturing of medical supplies, food and pharmaceutical packaging, construction materials and other related products.

LyondellBasell announced that it will slow construction of its world-scale propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) plant. The company said it is limiting non-essential activities at this time due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including government orders designed to limit human contact.

Dr. Frank Stieler resigned from his office as CEO of KraussMaffei Group GmbH on 31 March 2020 and Dr. Michael Ruf, former COO of the company, has taken over the position effective from 1 April 2020. The COO position will not be taken again, announced the company.

In March 2020 Amyris, global science and technology company for pure, sustainable ingredients for the health and wellness, cleaning, beauty and flavors and ragrances markets, announced the launch of a new, safe and clean Pipette Baby branded hand sanitizer – that can be used by everyone – to help combat COVID-19. Initial production of its hand sanitizer has started with Allure Labs as its contract manufacturing and packaging partner.

On 26 March 2020, the Bergamo-based company RadiciGroup and the Italian soccer club Atalanta Bergamo announced that they have decided to support the temporary field hospital that the Associazione Nazionale Alpini (National Association of Italian Alpine Soldiers) is building in the premises of Bergamo trade fair, with the aim of responding to the coronavirus emergency.

Deutsche Messe AG announced that Hannover Messe 2020 cannot take place this year due to the increasingly critical situation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hanover region has issued a decree that prohibits the staging of the trade show for industrial technology. From now until the next Hannover Messe in April 2021, a digital information and networking offer will provide exhibitors and visitors with the opportunity for economic policy orientation and technological exchange, said the organiser.

Parker Hannifin announced on Friday, 27 March 2020, that effective immediately, all on-site operations at the Adro facility will be suspended from 30 March 2020 until 3 April 2020. This action has been required following new directives from the Italian Government issued on Thursday 26 March 2020 requiring all non-essential manufacturing operations in Italy to cease.

To make sure that Zahoransky’s Z.Shark tufting machine can use its full output capacity in an even wider range of applications, it now has the option of being fitted with a double turret instead of a single turret. Typical applications include the tufting of children’s toothbrushes as well as hybrid toothbrushes and toothbrushes with different hole diameters that are partially tufted by two machines. In these cases, the double turret compensates for the lower bundle requirement per toothbrush so that the Z.Shark can produce at its maximum speed of 1,000 tufts/minute.

Davis-Standard once again exhibited at MD&M West in Ana­heim in February. The company showcased a running TPE tubing line at its stand. The line is capable of processing a variety of flexible tubing materials at speeds up to 300 feet/min (91 m/min).

European Bioplastics, the association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry in Europe, has issued a Call for Papers for the 15th European Bioplastics Conference taking place on 1 – 2 December 2020 in Vienna, Austria. The event will focus on the latest developments in bioplastics as well as on environmental aspects and opportunities for growth in the bio-based plastics sector. Experts are invited to submit proposals for a presentation on the following topics: