Raw material shortages are currently one of the main concerns of packaging machinery manufacturers. Not only are we being affected in terms of raw materials, but we have also been hit by the crisis of the shortage of electronic components. The following is an analysis of the situation we are facing and how it is expected to progress in the coming months.
Shortage of raw materials continues to affect the industrial sector
Packaging machinery manufacturers are consumers of stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, etc., which are indispensable materials in the industrial sector, but we find ourselves in a raw material crisis that has forced us to run out of the necessary quantity for our activity. The problem arises when there is no supply of some materials and the project has to be redesigned, which in turn leads to long lead times. In addition, it implies that machinery manufacturers are more flexible and able to adapt to the new reality to look for alternative material supply solutions.
It is not only necessary to adapt to a new project, but also to existing ones. A high degree of flexibility is required in offering, for example, a spare part in the after-sales service, since this is a real customer need, and under normal circumstances, the solution would be immediate. However, nowadays, due to the lack of raw materials, we find that the component required by the customer is out of stock and/or has a very long lead time.
Similarly, the raw material shortage crisis affects us in terms of cost. For projects that are not yet underway, the impact is usually lower. While for those already existing, it is necessary to be able to offer a quick and efficient solution to avoid stopping the production line.
That is why we must reinvent ourselves, try new materials to be autonomous, without depending on a product and be able to manufacture it thanks to other technologies, as is the case of 3D printers.
The future of machinery manufacturers in the wake of the raw materials crisis
To cope with the raw material crisis, as well as the lack of electronic components, companies have to take into account flexibility and the ability to adapt to the new reality.
In this line, in Barcelona Packaging Hub, an association formed by manufacturers of high quality packaging machinery, we encourage communication between companies sharing our concerns and problems regarding this crisis. Each of the companies that form part of the Hub contributes its knowledge with the aim of helping us all to find solutions: it has been the case of sharing components between partners. All the interrelation promoted by the Barcelona Packaging Hub has made it possible for us to find innovative alternatives together, thus allowing us to move forward with the projects.
Today, signs of improvement are beginning to be seen, but it is still not enough to ensure that the raw material crisis has been overcome. One of the consequences that has affected the industrial sector the most is the restrictions on deliveries because they have tried to place orders exceeding the requirements (some orders have even doubled and tripled), which has led to shortages. Luis Villegas, General Manager of Effytec, and founding partner of Barcelona Packaging Hub, says that the lead time used to be around 10-12 weeks, but now it has become 11-12 months. This implies that it is not possible to offer a new project with guarantees nor to ensure an immediate solution for those projects in progress. In this line we have seen that both customers have cooperated and have done their part to offer materials, as well as, the companies of Barcelona Packaging Hub have helped each other and we have provided components.
As packaging machinery manufacturers, we must continue to look for alternatives and solutions. Next May, Barcelona Packaging Hub will attend Interpack 2023, the leading trade fair for the packaging industry, which usually gives a boost to the sector and is expected to attract a maximum number of attendees. This is why it is necessary to work on alternatives and to be able to present the new products to customers and, above all, to be sure of delivering real deadlines adjusted to the customer’s needs.
We invite you to watch the complete webinar on how Barcelona Packaging Hub companies are facing the crisis of raw materials and electronic components.
