From Local Sources

JASPER — Kimball Electronics Inc. provided an update today on the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on the company.

According to the update, the company's primary focus is on the well-being and safety of its employees and doing its part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"We have taken steps to safeguard the health of our employees in our facilities worldwide in accordance with recommended protocols established by government authorities and country-specific, federal, state, and local public health organizations, including mandatory work-from-home for those whose responsibilities make it possible," the update states. "Our employees are also impacted by burdens imposed by COVID-19, such as travel restrictions, limitations on public gatherings, shelter in place orders, and mandatory closures of schools and child-care facilities which impact the ability of certain of our employees to report for work."

The company said ti has a diversified portfolio of markets, geographies and customers, some of which will be impacted more significantly than others.

"While we have experienced and are expecting sales declines in certain product categories," the update states, "we are experiencing increasing demand in other product categories, specifically for our medical assemblies, such as those related to respiratory care."

“I cannot express enough my great gratitude for the direct link our employees continue to play when it comes to making the important products we provide to our customers,” said Chairman and CEO Don Charron. “We have customers whose products are essential to the health and safety of people around the globe — in their personal lives and at work. Supporting customers with their specific needs is a good reminder of how important we are to the value stream — and to people's health — especially during this pandemic. I am proud of what we are doing as a company right now.”

COVID-19 has disrupted the company’s global operations since its initial outbreak.

"While our facilities in China were initially adversely impacted, they have now resumed normal operations," the update states. "The company’s other non-U.S. operations in Poland, Romania, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, and Mexico are all affected to varying degrees by government measures restricting the movement of citizens and operation of businesses. In the U.S., our manufacturing operations located in Jasper, Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Tampa, Florida, will maintain normal operations, based on recent federal, state, and local government mandates. This is because they fall under the general exception criteria as “Essential Businesses” due to our production and supply of medical assemblies critical to a variety of respiratory care products and drug delivery devices. We are working closely with our customers and suppliers to support worldwide critical public health needs."