17.12.2020

2020 Posed Many Challenges, Especially in the Fields of Medical Technologies and Customer Collaboration

But KNF is positive about the future as these obstacles were met by strong solidarity and teamwork

An unforeseen year is coming to an end. In 2020, people and companies had to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility. Like all companies, constantly changing information, regulations, opportunities and limits have also posed challenges to KNF. At the same time, the KNF Group has moved closer together, despite physical distance and the strict limitation of in-person meetings. All KNF locations shared one common goal throughout the year: to continually supply our customers reliably with the high-quality services and products they are accustomed to, even in times of uncertainty. The focus was primarily, but not exclusively, on supporting medical device manufacturers in their fight against the coronavirus.

Navigating the crisis successfully thanks to virtual collaboration in our engineering projects

Personal customer contact and close collaboration with customers and partners have always been very important at KNF. This year's corona crisis has made it clear how important a forward-looking and future-oriented way of thinking is for us as a mechanical engineering company. Not only with regard to the further development of technological products, but primarily with regard to a well-functioning and "practiced" digital infrastructure.

Several years ago, we at KNF began to embark on digital transformation in order to be well-positioned for the future. Digital communication tools originally served to facilitate collaboration between our KNF locations across national borders and disciplines. This year, our customers could benefit from our employees' already practiced use of digital collaboration tools. In these challenging times, these tools are now successfully ensuring the close and important exchange between customers and our KNF experts. Thanks to the experience they have gained, even complex processes such as product development can still be carried out. Read more about digital collaboration with KNF in our latest blog post where we have summarized our experiences for you.

Reliable production of diaphragm pumps helped to maintain the supply chains of KNF customers even under difficult conditions

The global demand for medical solutions for diagnostic, treatment and therapy equipment has increased sharply during the corona pandemic. In addition, there were disruptions in many supply chains worldwide. We are therefore all the more proud and pleased that we were able to meet our social responsibility and our obligations to our customers even in unforeseen times of crisis: By joining forces, we have successfully maintained our production and logistics processes to ensure the continuity of the supply chain. "Special thanks go to our KNF colleagues in production. Under difficult working conditions and with great commitment and extraordinary dedication, they made a significant contribution to our customers and partners, especially to those in the medical device technology sector," says Martin Becker, CEO of the KNF Group.

Awarded and certified - KNF is keeping its promises made to all of its partners who rely on lifesaving medical diaphragm pumps

Each of our worldwide KNF locations had to adapt to many regulations and restrictions this year. At the same time, we have received great support. For example, recognition of the significance of our pump solutions was demonstrated by the assignment of our locations to the "Defense Production Act" (DPA) of 1950 (KNF Neuberger Inc., USA) and registration as a "systemically important company" (KNF Flodos AG, KNF Micro AG, KNF Neuberger AG, Schweiz). Both of these measures allow us to maintain our production even in times of strict lockdowns during a pandemic. Leading global manufacturers of medical technology benefitted from this throughout this year in order to ensure their supply to medical facilities.

In the USA alone, demand for ventilators has risen significantly since the beginning of 2020 due to the corona pandemic. There, we could increase production of certain pump types up to ten times the usual production volume. This has enabled us to not only support the production of ventilators, but also of other medical-related applications, such as nebulizers, diagnostic tests, point-of-care tests, protein research, capnography, nitric oxide therapy, disinfection systems, sanitation foggers and diffusers as well as detergent dispensers.

But not only our US and European customers could rely on us. We also supported medical facilities in China through the reliable supply of our components. In October, our KNF site in China received the "Outstanding Contribution Award of Combating Covid-19" for its successful support during the critical phase of the Covid-19 pandemic at the beginning of the year. A recognition from Mindray, one of the world's leading manufacturers of medical device technology. In collaboration with KNF, Mindray was able to secure global emergency deliveries of vital medical equipment. This included the supply of biochemical analyzers, immune analyzers and blood cell analyzers equipped with KNF pumps to hospitals in the Wuhan region of China.

KNF is positive about the future - Season greetings from Martin Becker, CEO KNF Group

"Without a doubt, the year 2020 was a challenge for all of us. But at the same time, this year has shown what extraordinary achievements we can accomplish by supporting each other. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our customers, partners and colleagues for their loyalty and collaboration during this challenging year. Even though corona will still concern us in the coming year, I am confident that we will overcome this challenge together.

May you focus during the holiday season, despite all adversities, on the things that enrich life and make it enjoyable, and may you start the New Year with optimism and confidence. On behalf of the KNF Group I wish you and your families all the best. Stay healthy."