Machinery manufacturers, processors step up to aid Ukraine

By Karen Hanna

For 3M's medical science liaison for central Europe, Russia's invasion of Ukraine took a personal turn when a group of surgeons in the war-torn country began calling with an urgent request for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) devices.

“They need these devices to help people heal after gunshot wounds or explosion-related injuries,” Dr. Christian Seelandt said.

With support from management and another contact, Seelandt helped to arrange trucks to carry 200 NPWT devices and other surgical supplies.

“When we talk about 200 units, you have to think of it as 200 legs, 200 arms or even 200 lives that are potentially being saved,” he said, according to a press release issued by the maker of a wide variety of products, including plastic medical devices and supplies.

Like 3M, companies across the plastics industry are stepping up to help meet the urgent humanitarian needs of people fleeing Ukraine, as Russian forces continue to devastate the country.

“This goes beyond my role or my job,” Seelandt said. “We have an obligation to help. We have to help. Full stop.”

On March 17, Erema provided an update on its activities: “Our employees have been and are still very busy collecting goods and money for buying most-needed goods, like medication, baby food, diapers, sleeping bags. These goods were delivered to Poland, Romania and Ukraine. Erema donated a large amount of money to support these activities, and we will continue to find ways to help wherever our support is needed,” said a spokeswoman for Erema Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH, Ansfelden, Austria.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, 3.2 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia began its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24; another 6.7 million are believed to be internally displaced. Most of the refugees have gone north, to Poland, which has accepted nearly 2 million new arrivals — more than the population of Warsaw.

A sales representative and her family in Ukraine managed to escape with her family to Germany, and Erema reported they have since come to Upper Austria.

Erema joined other plastics industry companies in denouncing the war.

“We condemn Russia´s invasion of Ukraine and are calling for peace and for the protection of human rights. We, too, follow the restrictive measures adopted by EU, which means that we halted sales activities there,” the spokeswoman said.

In addition to supporting private initiatives, Erema has supported nonprofit organizations, including Volkshilfe Upper Austria and Support Ukraine NOW Upper Austria.

Erema is not alone.

Also on March 17, Rockwell Automation, which provides components used by machine builders, released an announcement that it also is making donations, totaling $500,000, to a number of humanitarian organizations that provide aid to refugees. They include United Way Worldwide, Red Cross, Global Giving, Save the Children, and Polish Humanitarian Action.

Machine builder Engel Group, based in Schwertberg, Austria, has reported a number of humanitarian activities.

Engel Group reported that its employees have been organizing efforts to respond to the war. Employees of a plant in Kaplice, Czech Republic, where about 100 people from Ukraine work, have offered up their private flats and homes to refugees; they are also collecting clothes and providing kits with food, hygiene items and bus tickets.

According to a March 10 LinkedIn post, Engel (UK) Ltd. team members Chris Stafford and Krzysztof Bruski, who is Polish, planned to spend a few days in Poland.

“Their plan is to visit centres in Rzeszow, Przemysl, Ustrzyki Dolne and Hrubieszow to find out what they urgently need. They will then buy these things and take them to the aid centres,” the post said.

In an update the following day, the company said Stafford and Bruski already had purchased a large number of sleeping bags. As of March 17, a donation page set up by the company showed it had collected 10,180 euros, or about $13,300 — a figure well above the company’s target of 5,000 euros.

The LinkedIn post reflected the urgency of the situation.

“We cannot stress enough, that for this to be successful, the money needs to be donated as soon as possible so that Chris and Krzysztof can make the best use of it before they return. Please, let’s pull the plastics processing industry together & give all the help we can.”

According to a March 9 press release, Engel Austria donated 100,000 euros, or about $110,000, to Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross and Nachbar in Not, an Austrian charity whose name means Neighbors in Need. Meanwhile, Engel Deutschland collected 25,000 euros, or about $27,000, for the Ukrainian Parish in Hannover within 24 hours.

“Engel employees are concerned for and sympathize with all Ukrainians. At the same time, Engel is thinking of everyone who is taking a personal risk to stand up for peace,” the company said in its announcement.

Meanwhile, plastics processor Jabil, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., said in a statement on its website that the company is providing “immediate relief through direct financial assistance; housing; transportation; and shelter.” Employees at plants in Tiszaújváros, Hungary, and Kwidzyn, Poland, have opened their homes to refugees, and the company has set up a relief fund.

“We are also supporting employees in Ukraine and their families in getting to, or crossing, the border into Hungary; providing translators for those arriving in Hungary from Ukraine; and providing mental health support for employees and their family members, especially their children,” the company said in the statement.

Other companies, including ABB, BASF and Hasco also are stepping up.

“I condemn the acts of war and aggression, which Russian forces have started through their invasion of Ukraine,” Björn Rosengren, president and CEO at ABB, wrote in a LinkedIn post that echoes statements by many other companies. “The human tragedy of seeing families displaced from their homes, thousands of citizens seeking refuge in neighboring countries and people losing their loved ones, is appalling and should have no place in our world today.”

In Rosengren’s post from early March, the Zurich, Switzerland-based robot maker announced it would donate 1 million Swiss francs, or about $1.08 million, to the International Committee of the Red Cross; it will also match employees’ gifts.

Resin supplier BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany, also has donated about $1 million, with a gift of 1 million euros to the German Red Cross (GRC), which is supporting its sister organization, the Ukrainian Red Cross (URC), in comprehensive relief efforts.

According to a March 1 press release from BASF, the GRC plans to provide people in Ukraine and people arriving in neighboring countries with necessities, including food, clothing and hygiene kits, as well as access to charging facilities for cell phones; it will also provide psychosocial support.

In addition to its corporate donation, BASF has pledged to match employee donations.

Headquartered in Lüdenscheid, Germany, mold technologies manufacturer Hasco Hasenclever GmbH + Co. KG also has announced a donation, of 10,000 euros — about $11,000.

“Hasco would like to express its sympathy and help people in need and contribute to mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe,” Managing Director Christoph Ehrlich said.

Karen Hanna, senior staff reporter

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