By David Maloney-
Here we go again with another weather scare that has inconvenienced the masses and disrupted the flow of our industry. Plants and offices may shut down. Trucks have been postponed. The supply chain has been upended.
Company employees are more focused on digging out of their driveway, feeding their families while stores/restaurants are closed, and figuring out what to do with their “ snow day “ school kids, than getting orders moving. Whether one lives in the north or the south, there is no way of getting around the potential of inclement weather.
When bad weather comes, our resin industry tends to be hit extremely hard. Whether it’s the hurricanes in summer, or a potential freeze in the winter, the weather comes upon us quickly. We are limited as to what actions can be taken.
The Texas freeze that occurred several years ago, came without a lot of noise or attention. After a couple days of the freeze, most of us expected everything to be fine and move right back to normal plant operations. The reality was that many plants in the Gulf were left idle for an extended time, and the effects were felt for several months thereafter.
No one can predict the number and intensity of weather interruptions in a given year. The best we can do as a company (and an industry) is to be as prepared as possible.
We at Genesis polymers are uniquely positioned to deal with a weather crisis. Genesis has partnered with Shell polyethylene and Heartland polypropylene in North America. Genesis serves as an authorized distributor for each of these entities.
The Shell and Heartland plants are both located outside the hurricane zone and are weatherized for extreme conditions. Both plants were built within the last few years with weather prevention in mind.
Whether or not you’re content with your current supplier, getting a Shell polyethylene grade or a Heartland polypropylene grade approved is a wise hedge at the very least.
Genesis can’t prevent violent weather, but we can take significant steps to minimize the impact and keep your plant running.
Please contact Genesis and let us show you how we can protect you.
Dave Maloney,
Sr Account Manager , Genesis Polymers
Now may be “the winter of our discontent”, but, “the sun also rises”. Stay warm and dry!
