The IIR calls on national governments to consider the various services of refrigeration and air conditioning as “essential services” in the context of the spread of COVID-19 in countless countries around the world. Over 15 million people are employed worldwide in the refrigeration sector--including air conditioning--which consumes about 20% of the overall electricity used worldwide.

Anchor Packaging has redirected a portion of its engineering staff and its 3D laser-printing machine toward making face shields for healthcare workers in the St Louis area. 

Giant Food, a Washington D.C. regional grocery chain, announced two new social distancing policies put into effect across all of its stores as they continue to provide an essential service for the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

We remain open with full functionality from quoting and sales of new systems, replacement parts, production and delivery of products and essential services to our customers. At present, our administrative, inside sales, marketing and engineering functions are being performed by ASGCO team members on a rotating working remotely schedule with full and complete access to all of the same resources they have when working out of our corporate. Additionally, every team member is reachable at their standard phone number and email address.

Many of our clients are in the critical fields of pharma, hygiene, food, beverage, manufacturing, chemicals, and more. We are designated as a critical co-packers, materials and machinery suppliers and as such our business remains open to provide customer service and parts. We are also have the ability to help with materials and machinery needs for those food, beverage, and pharma companies experiencing a surge in demand.

La Brea Bakery wants to assure consumers that their bakeries are up and running at full capacity and delivering to grocery stores nationwide, giving everyone access to bread that can be eaten that day, or stored in the freezer to be enjoyed at a later date.

As we collectively find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at M&M Systems, Carnot Refrigeration, and M&M Refrigeration wanted to inform you that we have been designated as Essential Businesses and will remain open to supply our customers in the food & agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and data management industries, among others.

MH Equipment is classified as an Essential Business, as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), an agency in the Department of Homeland Security, and further state all of our facilities are open and ready to support our customers in the critical supply chain network.

Under the guidance of the U.S. Homeland Security and the Illinois Executive Order, Colborne Foodbotics and Yeaman Machine Technology are considered an essential services. We will remain open to continue to support and supply services and equipment necessary for our customers to remain operational.

Government officials have repeatedly stated that the food industry is a critical infrastructure industry and that bans and travel curfews should not apply to the food industry. Further, they are working to convey and increase their messaging this important message to state and local governments.  In response to recent discussions with members, we have prepared a letter that you may share with your employees, providing legal justification for business travel as professionals in an industry that the government has deemed critical to this country.