In-Line with Fi-Tech – Spring 2021
Todd Bassett
Welcome to the Spring Issue of In Line with FiTech! While it is nice to have 2020 in our rear view mirror, we all still face a lot of challenges regarding COVID and distribution of the vaccine. Here, at Fi-Tech, we have been working in teams to limit time in the office for our employees in order to maintain social distancing, while maintaining 100% of our customer service level and 100% of our shipping capability. A more recent challenge that we have faced because of COVID has been a disruption in our normal inbound freight from Europe. Limited space on aircraft, combined with a slowdown in ocean freight shipments due to limited container and ship space, has presented challenges.
Our Warehouse & Logistics Manager, John Chandler, has been out in front of these issues and has kept the freight moving for us, but we are seeing longer than usual shipping times for air and ocean freight shipments, so keep that in mind when placing orders.
For some good news, for the holidays, our employees were very generous in helping to raise more than $2,200 to purchase 35 bicycles that were donated to a local charity sponsoring area families in need. Thanks to Vicky Gant Wilson for organizing this fundraising event for Fi-Tech!
In other Fi-Tech news, after 34 years with Fi-Tech, Jon Schmidt retired at the end of February and is looking forward to spending more time playing the saxophone and continuing Revolutionary War reenactments. He has been spending the last few months helping to train our newest hire, Stein Carlsen, who joined us in November. Stein has joined our Fi-Tech team as a Sales and Market Develop Manager and he comes to us with experience in industrial sales and market development with numerous international companies.
In this issue of In Line with Fi-Tech, we have an update from Autefa on their Baling Solutions including the new Bale Sealing System and the new Retrofitting Program for older Autefa bale presses to extend their life and boost productivity. On the Nonwovens side, we have an update from Enka Tecnica regarding their MB Smart Meltblown Beams and Spoolex gives us an update on their Spooling and Slitting/Rewinding product lines. In Textiles, Brückner introduces its new process for coating and drying bi-elastic knitted fabrics.
Please also take a glance at our events calendar as we hope to be able to participate in our first face-to-face industry events later this year. In the meantime, please stay safe!
Opportunity to Serve
The challenges of 2020, including COVID-19, did not minimize the generosity of Fi-Tech and its employees for Christmas 2020. In an effort to maximize assistance in our local community, Fi-Tech teamed up with Mercy Mall of Virginia to assist families in our area who are reestablishing homes and recreating stable living conditions. Mercy Mall helps people find housing, fill emergency needs of those who are homeless or reentering society after incarceration or other circumstances.
They invited us for a complete tour of their facilities to witness the level of assistance and compassion offered to those who have survived their potentially worst tragedies. Through our campaign, we were able to supply 35 bicycles and 35 locks for the children of these families. Two of our employees volunteered to assemble all bikes that were ordered on-line; as well as volunteers to deliver the bikes to Mercy Mall. This was a heartfelt display of teamwork to help parents give to their children for Christmas.
Many thanks to all who contributed.
Read Full Newsletter: Fi-Tech Spring 2021 Newsletter