Business News
Bosch: “Appalled by the extent of the catastrophe in Japan”
Tuesday 15. March 2011 - No Bosch associates among the dead and wounded
Emergency services coordination teams in Germany and Japan working tirelessly and answering associates questions
Production largely continued at Bosch locations in Japan on Monday
Expatriates allowed to leave Japan, company providing assistance in organizing travel
“We are deeply concerned by the extent of the catastrophe in Japan caused by the massive earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. Following the extremely critical situation that has arisen with respect to the nuclear power plants, we are worried about our associates, customers, suppliers, and partners, as well as about the Japanese people affected,” said Franz Fehrenbach, the chairman of the Bosch board of management, in Stuttgart today.
Emergency support teams, set up in Germany and Japan on Friday directly after news of the earthquake broke, have been in close contact with each other since then and are answering associates’ questions.
As far as is known at present, no-one was killed or injured at any of the Bosch locations in Japan. The precise extent of damage to buildings is still being assessed. What is certain is that no buildings collapsed, and there were no fires, at any of the Bosch locations. Nor has any severe structural damage been discovered in any Bosch buildings.
Given this situation, the Bosch locations largely resumed or continued production on Monday. In some cases, however, there is still uncertainty about the situation at individual suppliers. Bosch is working all out to find a solution with suppliers and manufacturers.
The emergency support team of the Bosch regional company in Japan is coordinating any measures required to help Japanese associates.
At present, some 130 German Bosch associates are in Japan. The company has given these associates the option of leaving the country. Bosch is supporting those associates who wish to leave and their families in organizing their trip home.
For associates worldwide, Bosch has suspended all travel to Japan.