Linfox lends a hand as Thailand's worst floods in 70 years have businesses scrambling with production at a standstill for at least another two months
November 22, 2011
Australia’s largest private transport and Logistics company Linfox has risen to the call in Thailand, where business and industry is at a standtill in the wake of
the nation’s worst flooding in
70 years.
Linfox CEO Michael Byrne says the floods have hampered the company’s operations but everyone has contributed to maintaining
the company’s
business as best they can in the circumstances.
Byrne says the floods are continuing to affect the lives and wellbeing of the majority of employees and their families, with many unable to attend work as they dealt with damage to their homes and property.
Meanwhile some of the world’s biggest hard drive makers such as Western Digital, Toshiba, Samsung are in disarray
as a result of
the Monsoons, which have already caused an estimated 346.2 billion baht ($11.2 billion) of damage.
Analysts have even predicted a global hard drive shortage lasting into the middle of next year, especially given the recent trend for companies to bypass traditional motherboard manufacturers such as Dell and HP, to buy thousands direct from Thai suppliers.
Companies including Pioneer, Toyota and Sony have also been impacted, with waters, still in the region of 2 metres high in some areas scotching any hope of resuming production within the next two months.
Two industrial estates in Pathum Thani north of Bangkok have been completely submerged with water levels higher than protective dikes, hampering drainage efforts.
To the north of Bangkok seven industrial estates and 891 factories are swamped with a further two industrial states
threatened east of the capital, where auto manufacturers Honda and Isuzu have their operations.
According to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, eastern Bangkok should be flood-free by the end of the year, while western districts may take longer as drainage is difficult in those regions and the process must be undertaken area by area.
Michael Byrne says a number of Linfox personnel from across Asia Pacific have flown to Thailand to assist with the disaster.
Linfox Country Manager Thailand, James Allmand
adds Linfox
is managing customer operations in any way possible, subject to keeping Linfox employees safe.
“The floods have been a disaster for Thailand but I’m incredibly proud of the professionalism of all our employees, on and off-road, throughout the crisis,” James says.
Linfox has set up a special bank account to allow Australian employees to financially assist flood-affected colleagues in Thailand. The company is matching donations dollar for dollar.