What Dura-ID are doing to navigate chemical labels and materials shortages post-pandemic

With coronavirus, Brexit, a shortage of materials and booming fuel and gas prices causing havoc, it is clear that all these factors will have an impact on businesses as well as individuals.

That’s why we’re delighted to be able to say that, despite all these pressures, Dura-ID is continuing to thrive.

We can tell you that it hasn’t been an easy ride in 2021. But thanks to the hard work of our staff and the patience and understanding of our customers, we’ve still been able to succeed this year.
So what challenges have we faced this year?

Chemical Labels

In order to create chemical labels, we need access to the right amount of adhesive in order to manufacture those labels. However, fires and floods at our suppliers’ premises and a surge in taxes forced the price to increase and, despite our best efforts, we have tried not to force price increases onto our customers. However, we had to lump it and increase prices in July as our business just couldn’t keep up with the increased expenditure anymore.

At Dura-ID, we need different strengths of adhesive depending on the type of label we are creating. For example, the BS5609 is the British Standard for pressure-sensitive adhesive labels that are required for marine applications. This means that if an item falls into the sea, the label has to be strong enough not only to withstand the pressures of the ocean, but to keep identifying features intact so that it can be traced to its proper source. A label of this nature clearly requires stronger adhesive than your traditional labels you might think of in supermarkets. So getting the right adhesive is absolutely essential to our business.

We have managed to learn lessons through this experience and we are sourcing alternative suppliers so that we are not just relying on one company. Our estimating and purchasing teams have been really on top of this issue so it’s thanks to them that we are now finding new sources, ideally within the UK, to solve the adhesives issue.

Brexit

This has been more of an administrative issue that we’ve had to deal with as opposed to physical problems with a lack of lorry drivers. The correct commodity code needs to be included in the invoice now that the UK is out of the customs union. This code has to match with the right goods otherwise they cannot be shipped because the wrong duties may be paid. This has caused some delays for shipping items to the EU but it’s a problem we have managed to resolve to everybody’s mutual satisfaction.

Coronavirus

Thanks to the magic of Zoom, Google Meet, Teams and the rest, we have been able to keep in touch with our customers. It has been disappointing in some ways not to be able to meet our customers face-to-face but what we have noticed is that the lead quality of people getting in touch with us is now a lot better, which has definitely helped the business. Customers enquiring with us are genuinely interested in our products, and we have noticed a huge drop-off in people reaching out for initial contact, only for that contact to then fail to generate purchasing an item.

We were able to keep the majority of our staff post-pandemic which was fantastic news as it meant we maintained the expertise and skill levels that our staff possess.

What’s next?

Overall we have managed to come out of this period stronger and we are looking forward to getting back to the exhibitions that we regularly attend throughout the UK and Europe all year round.

Let’s hope that no more unforeseen challenges hurl themselves at us and that the world can continue getting back to normal.

To find out more about working with Dura-ID, email info@dura-id.com or phone 0114 242 2111.