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VLB NEWS
The VLB in the COVID-19 crisis – a status report While the COVID-19 crisis has so far not been as severe in Germany as it has been in other European countries, the pandemic also has had a significant impact on the VLB. It has been possible to maintain business operations with some restrictions so as to comply with all legal requirements and precautionary measures. While laboratory operations, sales of yeast, laboratory equipment and books have not been affected so far, the national and international conference business of VLB in particular has come to a complete standstill since the beginning of March.
A solitary classroom? No, the course participants are connected to the lecture via video conference system
(oh) “Our primary goal is to keep the effects of the pandemic manageable by taking appropriate measures and to ensure that the VLB remains secure and stable in the future. Under the given circumstances, however, it remains a real challenge,” says Gerhard Andreas Schreiber, Chief Financial Officer of VLB Berlin. A large number of employees have been requested to work from home to insure smooth operation of the VLB's core areas of business. Appropriate hygiene guidelines have been issued for the workforce on-site, business trips have
been cancelled, public business inside the VLB building has been restricted and a pandemic crisis team has been set up. In addition, application for financial support was submitted to the Berlin Senate. The official classification of the VLB laboratories and testing facilities as part of the critical infrastructure (KRITIS) was applied for. Laboratory operations continue VLB’s contract laboratories for analysis of cereals, hops, beer, beverages, intermediates, water and spirits as well as testing of
packaging continue to function – of course in accordance with the official regulations and in compliance with all necessary precautionary measures for employees and customers. “We try to reduce personal contacts and thus keep the infection risk for the staff as low as possible,” says Dr. Nils Rettberg, head of the VLB Research Institute for Beer and Beverage Analysis. “The demand on our analytical services has been affected just slightly by the pandemic so far,” he adds. Shipping laboratory items, books, yeasts and consultancy Orders for pure yeast cultures from the VLB strain collections and microbiological nutrient media are being processed and delivered. The subsidiary VLB Labo Tech also processes all incoming orders for laboratory articles and textbooks. The Wilfried Rinke Brewing Center is also in operation and prepared for conducting project work. In addition, ongoing research projects will continue. Due to the restrictions on national and international business trips, technological consultancy and on-site training courses are only possible by phone or video conference until further notice. Numerous VLB conferences cancelled or postponed While the analytics and sales activities of VLB were less affected, the crisis had a significant impact
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Brauerei Forum International – May 2020
