Commenting on this year’s unprecedented tinplate supply issues, Nick Ince, director of sourcing at Impress, says: “In the circumstances we faced this year, I can say we have done as much as was humanly possible to minimize disruption to customers. Our suppliers have explained the need to place their tinplate business on a viable economic footing for the long term.
“However, in exchange, we at Impress expect reliable supply, suitable product quality and supply flexibility to take account of the dynamics of customers’ activities. We are working with our key suppliers to achieve these important supply chain arrangements. In parallel, going forward into 2009, all the progress we shall make to achieve with our customers to standardize and lightweight our product ranges will greatly assist the supply chain.”
Impress CEO Francis Labbé adds: “The supply chain difficulties encountered in 2008 were undoubtedly the number one business challenge for Impress this year. We have left no stone unturned in finding supply solutions with minimum disruption. The substantial costs of these actions have been very largely absorbed by us.
‘’As regards pricing, for 2009 we have negotiated the best tinplate prices available to us not only in Europe, but in the world and these have to be passed through to the market. I take this opportunity, however, to remind our suppliers that we are now clearly facing a significant economic downturn throughout Europe, with activity declining in many sectors and input costs falling. I would therefore expect them to recognise the current economic cycle in their pricing at the earliest and we are monitoring their positions closely.”
