Wittmann Battenfeld Keeps Production Running Amid COVID‑19: Supplying Essential Plastic Parts

On Friday, March 20, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" executive order, suspending all non‑essential in‑person operations in the state from 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Recognizing the critical role its machines play in key industries, Wittmann Battenfeld USA in Torrington, Connecticut, immediately mobilised to support its customers.

"We activated our staff over the weekend and reached out to every customer who might be affected by a service disruption," said Sonny Morneault, Vice President of U.S. Sales. "The overwhelming response was a resounding "Yes, we really need you,"" he recalled.

Many of these clients were deemed essential. Connecticut promptly amended the directive, confirming that manufacturing could remain open with staff working remotely where possible. A similar order applied to Wittmann Battenfeld’s Illinois office.

"Plastics are essential materials for manufacturing items that are essential to battling the COVID‑19 crisis," stated David Preusse, President of Wittmann Battenfeld North America. "The importance of plastics in a time like this cannot be understated, and we are proud to be a part of this industry."

On March 25, Wittmann Battenfeld released a press statement confirming its continued operation during the crisis. The company’s early outreach resulted in 45 “Essential Status” letters from customers producing life‑saving components.

These letters came from industry leaders such as BD, Jabil Healthcare, Baxter Healthcare, Eli Lilly, 3M, Nemera, Flex, Cardinal Healthcare, Corning Life Sciences, Technimark and Comar. The recipients manufacture critical items—ventilator parts, COVID‑19 diagnostics, pipette tips, drug delivery devices and other emergency medical supplies.

At the time, about 50 employees were working remotely statewide, while roughly 30 staff members remained on site at the Torrington facilities to handle essential jobs. Prior to the governor’s order, the company had already tested its IT infrastructure to support increased remote work.

To address short‑term customer service needs, Wittmann Battenfeld launched a series of webinars for robot training, temporarily replacing in‑person classes. The company also offers 24/7 online support through its suite of apps and remote assistance tools.

Regional staff were deployed to minimise air travel, and TeamViewer Meetings, web‑based service, and FaceTime were used to keep customers running smoothly. Regular "All Employee Updates" were issued every two days, keeping communication open across the organization. The company also provided two weeks’ paid leave and PTO to help employees navigate the temporary shutdown period that began on March 20.

Even after the state lifted the shutdown on March 22, exempting all manufacturing companies, Preusse said the company chose to keep a minimal on‑site workforce. "We believe this is the optimum measure to reduce the spread of the pandemic and the heavy strain on hospitals, which can lead to unnecessary deaths," he explained.

Morneault noted that while the company had not yet faced major supply‑chain disruptions, it was preparing for potential changes. "We know disruptions are coming, but as of right now, we are still able to keep production running and goods, services and raw materials continue to trickle in," he said. "We are also stocked with ample inventory to support our customers."