CONTRACT & TOLL MANUFACTURING that we could continue to meet every order ,” says Darren Sanderson , the company ’ s general manager . A key part of maintaining this adaptability is ongoing investment in facilities and services . For example , Safapac has recently spent around £ 300,000 in broadening its packing offer to customers , while the installation of new equipment was part of a £ 750,000 investment that JT Grosvenor recently undertook to improve its facility . “ Our investment has not only enabled us to react quickly to the particular demands from the pandemic , but also ensured we keep our equipment and operating environment up to the latest standards ,” adds Sanderson .
Prepared for Brexit
Of course , long before any of us had even heard of COVID-19 , there was another significant challenge occupying the minds of most businesses . And while the government did manage to ‘ get Brexit done ’ in time for last year ’ s December deadline , the uncertainty that preceded it and to some extent has continued despite the agreement , demonstrates how effective planning is an important part of CMOs ’ adaptability . For their customers , this has helped to make the transition process relatively painless . “ We spent the last few years rigorously preparing for Brexit and it was quite easy to adhere to new procedures once the final Brexit rules were announced ,” explains Dutton of Libra . “ As a result , we had virtually no issues with shipments , documentation , or VAT requirements for our continued sales to the EU , which grew during this period .” Similarly , Mirius invested significantly in formulating strategies to cope with all possible outcomes : “ We put in place rigorous contingency plans for all manner of scenarios post- Brexit ,” confirms Langdon . “ We are in no doubt that as the situation continues to evolve and develop , things may change ; but what was critical was to try to understand the potential impacts of Brexit and what issues we might face . That way , we aimed to be one step ahead , which is always a good position to be in .” Indeed , being able to keep up to date with changing requirements has always been essential in an industry as heavily regulated as chemicals and this remains an essential part of many CMOs ’ partnerships with customers . Recently , the impact of EU REACH regulations has meant that in-house technical and regulatory teams have been busy ensuring they can deal with all aspects of EU and international dossier compliance and registration . For many the impact of dealing with this legislation has been significant , adding cost and complexity to each transaction . However , by building their knowledge and expertise , businesses are adding value to their customers and ensuring that orders are not impacted by missing paperwork . JT Grosvenor , meanwhile , reports that Brexit has actually created an opportunity for bringing business back into the UK as companies look to avoid the costs and impact of duties and legislation from products sourced overseas .
Sustainable options
Nevertheless , whatever opportunities present themselves from now on , sustainability is likely to have increased relevance in today ’ s more
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