Solinear Adapting to the New Normal | COVID-19 Business Resilience

Taking measures
Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Solinear took measures in late March to minimise the risk of exposing staff, clients, and the public to the COVID-19 pandemic. We monitored developments daily and, as restrictions tightened, Solinear took note and followed the unfurling of government directives regarding COVID-19, therefore taking the difficult but responsible decision to operate at reduced capacity until further notice.

Business not quite as usual but getting there
Solinear still had orders to fulfil but, as with other businesses in the construction industry, new contracts were on the decline compared to our extraordinary boom of 2019 and early 2020. However, there was still interest in our products and services, so enquiries continued to trickle through. Whilst a few members of staff were furloughed, others worked from home and some remained on-site and in the manufacturing facility, adhering to recommended social distancing guidelines, striving to maintain business as usual, albeit at a diminished volume.

Riding the wave of uncertainty
This was a strange, confusing, and difficult time for many businesses. We depended, like never before, on the unswerving patience and understanding of our incredible clients and along with the dedication and commitment from staff, Solinear was determined to ride the wave of uncertainty, making it through to the other side as intact as possible.

How can we help?
Although Solinear is more accustomed to the manufacturing of feature facades rather than face shields, it was felt that due to the critical shortfall in protective visors at the time – crucial in the battle against the spread of COVID-19 – Solinear could assist with the 3D printing of these vital pieces of equipment. The brilliant idea was proposed by one of Solinear’s welders, Elliot Headley, who subsequently discussed his proposition with Andy Moore, Solinear’s design manager. Andy promptly contacted David Young, the Director of interACT & Connect LTD – a York based enterprise, raising funds to help pay for materials to create face shields supporting frontline workers in the fight against Covid-19 – and production began soon after.
By the end of April, Solinear had produced 700 face shields.
Solinear is grateful to all emergency staff and keyworkers, volunteers and charity workers with their unwavering determination and dedication to provide vital services to the public throughout these extraordinary times.

The ‘new normal’
Solinear staff are working full time and Solinear is, once again, open for business as we are adapt to the ‘new normal’ – the omnipresent term for not normal but as near to normal, with addenda, as we are going to get for the foreseeable future.
Pre-Covid, the Solinear team would simply cross the office for a catch up or to offer a drink but as all the office-based staff members now work from home, we are keeping in touch via WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams etc. ….and having to make our own drinks!
It’s a small price to pay as Solinear is committed to keeping the team safe, as well as protecting clients and members of the public and we can confirm that no one from Solinear has developed any COVID-19 symptoms, nor has anyone who has been in direct contact with our staff and we intend to keep it that way.

As always, we continue to monitor the situation regularly, striving to keep you updated with further developments and adapting accordingly. In the meantime, we hope you appreciate that, although production will continue to increase, progress will be steady and our response to your enquiries may still be delayed. We express our sincere thanks to all our existing, as well as new, customers for your patience and understanding.

We wish everyone good health and look forward to seeing you soon.