Operation status of European polyurethane soft foam plant under epidemic

The overall situation can be summarized as follows: before the middle of March, the soft bubble production in Europe was basically normal, but then the situation deteriorated rapidly due to the lack of market demand, the lack of labor force and the government's decision to restrict the flow of population.

So far, all soft bubble factories serving the automotive industry in Europe have been closed. Most of the soft foam factories in southern Europe, which mainly serve the bedding and furniture industries, have been closed, and the production load of factories in other places has declined significantly, most of which focus on online sales of goods or medical mattress coating online coatingol.com. The increase in production of these commodities brings additional income, but it is far from offsetting the loss caused by the decrease in production of other commodities. Some of the companies that make medical mattresses claim to have difficulty in purchasing them.

Some equipment manufacturers also said it was difficult to purchase parts from countries in a blocked state. In addition, it is expected that border closures, inadequate labour and tighter control of border ports will disrupt the soft bubble supply chain (from raw materials to final products) in the coming weeks and could lead to delays in delivery. Among the companies that maintain production, all respondents expect the situation to worsen further in April, and they expect production to decline by 30% to nearly 80% compared with the normal month. A drop in production could prompt more manufacturers to voluntarily temporarily shut down their factories, even if they are not required by government orders. In most countries, businesses can get some form of support from the government to deal with short-term unemployment of workers.

The following is more detailed information on the production of soft bubbles in various regions of Europe. Countries are classified according to the usual regional division in statistical reports. Austria, Germany and Switzerland: the production load of the plant has been greatly reduced. The flexible polyurethane foam plant can continue to operate, but the production load has been greatly reduced. Most of the polyurethane soft foam produced is used to meet special orders (such as medical mattress) or online sales. Benelux: the production load of the factory has been greatly reduced before the middle of March. The production is basically normal, but the production has been greatly reduced since then. The flexible polyurethane foam plant can continue to operate, but additional precautions must be taken. The production load of all factories has been greatly reduced. Most of the polyurethane soft foam produced is used to meet special orders (such as medical mattress) or online sales.

Demand is expected to fall further in April, with most companies expecting production to fall by more than 50% from normal months. Some companies say they may close factories if demand is too weak. Companies that produce mattresses face problems in purchasing cushion covers and other materials for (medical) mattresses. But so far they have found a solution. The governments of Belgium and the Netherlands have introduced measures to support enterprises. The Belgian government has simplified the application process, allowing workers, including blue and white-collar workers, to apply for temporary unemployment benefits.