covid19 – Mega Fortris Americas, Inc.

Reopening of Borders Across the Globe

April 1, 2022 – Malaysia’s government announced the reopening of the country’s border to international travellers.

Following this, the Malaysia-Singapore land border was also reopened. All fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter the country without undergoing quarantine, but will be required to take an RT-PCR test two days before departure and a rapid test (RTK) within 24 hours of arrival.

Hong Kong and Macao passport holders may also enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days. For visa requirements for foreign nationals, see: https://bit.ly/3J3JMQN.

After two years of strict travel, Malaysia has dropped its quarantine requirements for people vaccinated against COVID-19. We can expect some normalcy in the coming months as international flights for business, tourists, and foreign students reopen and resume operations. The road to recovery is positive as inferred by the activities below:

Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, the leading business events bureau in the country, will be organising a total of 81 business events thus far for the year 2022 and is expecting around 113,700 delegates to Malaysia, contributing to a total of RM834 million in estimated economic impact.
Malaysia closed a deal with Emirates Airlines to bring tourists from 130 international locations.
Education Malaysia Global Services is facilitating international students to pursue higher education in Malaysia, as it was also reported that there was an increase in PhD applications from international students in the past 24 months, reaching 11,661 in 2021.

Additional information on borders across the world:

From 16 May, passengers flying in the EU will no longer need to wear masks in airports or aboard flights, though some countries have chosen to require masks. Check the rules before you fly here.
Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Serbia, Slovenia, and Slovakia no longer have any Covid-19 travel restrictions for visitors.
Belgium: Visitors from outside the EU no longer need to show any Covid-19 paperwork to enter.
Italy: Its ‘state of emergency’ situation has dropped but has extended travel restrictions until 31 May.
Spain and mainland Portugal: Masks are no longer mandatory, except on public transport.
Japan: Border restrictions in June will be relaxed further where there are no Covid-19 arrival tests for people from low-risk areas.
Singapore: Borders have already opened, and restrictions are lifted.
Philippines: The ease in border restrictions allows fully vaccinated international travellers to enter.

With the borders reopening, Mega Fortris also has plans in the pipeline to revisit old friends and business partners around the globe.

Supply Chains Flare Up Again, Endangering Global Recovery

Despite some positive predictions of the supply chain’s recovery, supply chains are getting tangled across the globe. From China to Denmark, this new situation is sparking re-examinations of things as macro as globalisation itself and micro as trucking efficiency around ports.

As for the big picture, the intertwined world economy took decades to stitch together and will take years to play out, however it evolves. In the meantime, economists are squinting to see the more granular, short-term shifts that the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine are forcing on consumption, investment, production, and trade.

Some observers say now is a good time to focus on different metrics than traditional measures of employment, prices, and gross domestic product.

“The way we look at the global economy needs to change,” said Steven Barrow, a currency strategist at Standard Bank. “No longer should we look at growth, inflation, and monetary policy through the lens of demand. Instead, it is supply that’s key.”

Before the pandemic, the supply of goods and services was what economists would generally call “elastic”, flexing easily to match demand. “But now supply has turned from being elastic to inelastic, meaning that the response to changes in demand are far less,” Barrow said in a note.

With that in mind, there are a few unorthodox supply-side scopes to observe, with one such as below:

Heat Maps

Many economists, including the team at Bloomberg, have developed indexes or colourful heat maps to show the degree of stress on supply lines. In a research note last week, BNP Paribas SA analysts released their latest tracker, and it showed some April indicators flashing orange and yellow.

They look at traditional gauges like delivery times and order-to-inventory ratios, along with alternative numbers like air cargo rates and the number of anchored vessels outside the Port of Los Angeles. “Disruptions are back and here to stay,” they wrote.

A Moody’s Analytics measure shows supply stress in the world’s two biggest economies, the U.S. and China, is still hovering well above the pre-pandemic norm.

“Disruptions stemming from the Ukraine conflict steepened those graph lines in February, but now the cause lies primarily with China’s Covid-related woes, which have forced 15% more ships to wait in waters off the ports of Shanghai than at the same time last year, “said Steve Cochrane, the firm’s Asia-Pacific chief economist. “That’s reversing the improvement that started in the final quarter of 2021,” he added.

China’s Trade with the World Withering

China’s trade with the rest of the world declined in April under the pressure from Covid-19 lockdowns and dropping overseas demand, signalling that the global economy is losing traction as high inflation affects consumer spending.

The pullback in exports that helped power China’s growth is heightening worries over a world economy that is already shaken by the war in Ukraine and rising interest rates in the U.S. and Europe.

Exports:

In March 2022, China’s export growth rate was 14.7%.
In April 2022, China’s export growth fell sharply to 3.9%, its weakest level since June 2020, due to the stringent COVID-19 rules that badly affected trade in the country. However, this rate was still slightly above analysts’ forecasts of 3.2%.

Imports:

In April, imports were stagnant, showing almost no growth due to restricted domestic demand.

The sluggish figures reflect the extent to which the Chinese economy has lost momentum in the face of prolonged lockdowns in some of its major economic hubs.

Shanghai, the world’s largest port, has seen massive disruption since late March as a result of curbs aimed at dealing with the country’s worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

The Chinese government’s zero-COVID policies have seen factories shut down across the city, as well as major shipping delays at the port.

Transport and logistics networks have been severely impacted, with restrictions hitting delivery of goods around the country and to ports with major global shipping connections.

Chicago-based 3PL and global freight forwarder SEKO Logistics said in a customer advisory that ocean and airport operations in Shanghai are currently operating, with factories running if operating under a closed-loop system.

“Ocean terminals are operating as normal but with lower efficiency due to staff shortages,” said SEKO officials. “We have seen an approximate 80% decrease in container pickups from outside the lockdown area due to driver shortages and restrictions. Carriers have announced omitting calling at Shanghai and vessel cut-off delays due to traffic restrictions. This will put additional pressure on the terminal once it opens, and we expect port congestion once the restrictions end. The port of Ningbo is an alternative option but is now being impacted as almost all cargo, excluding Zhejiang Province, has been diverted to Ningbo as an alternative port to Shanghai. This has caused an increase in rates out of Ningbo as well as an equipment shortage.”

The persistent impact of COVID lockdowns on key markets will have wider-reaching impacts, leading to equipment scarcity in China, a hike up of rates, and worsening of the traffic jam on Transpacific.

“The problem will continue to remain after that because there are also labour union disputes in the U.S. waiting in the month of May, which historically always leads to slow down at the west coast ports,” he noted.

Long port wait times equal to idle ships and boxes, and as the supply chain continue to breakdown, there are more delays in the ports and terminals. Consumer goods are surging, and retailers are facing a supply chain crisis ahead of the holiday season because of the lower-than-usual efficiency of port operations due to COVID-19.

With your shipping containers stuck at port, its security is more important than ever. Secure your shipping containers before they are in-transit to the location so that you can alleviate your worries.

Protect them with our security seals that will guarantee to give you peace of mind.

Klicker 2K Seal

The world’s first dual colour container designed by Mega Fortris makes it easy to identify your assets and their security. With nearly 3 million pieces sold in the past year, this security seal is a trusted product by many customers.

Learn more here.

Mega Lock Cable Seals

Mega Lock series is a combination structure of a container bolt and a cable barrier seal to achieve robust security for high-value assets. ISO 17712 and CTPAT compliant, it secures both doors of the container through the combination of a container bolt seal and the MCL 250 cable seal.

With precisely designed locking mechanism and cable length, it is strong and durable for all securing purposes.

We have three versions available:

Find more here.

Contact our sales team today for enquiries and advice on the correct solution for you.

In the history of human civilizations, infectious disease has flourished since the horrendous Black Death that travelled from Asia and hit Europe in 1347, it took 200 million lives in four years. Over the recent two decades, we witness other epidemics and pandemics such as SARS, H1N1, Ebola, Zika, whereby some of them are still mercilessly taking lives. Vaccine R&D has been undergoing for each and every virus, giving us the crucial window to construct a collaborative and agile pharmaceutical supply chain.

Concerning the current global health pandemic of Covid-19, Pfizer and Moderna have recently announced their respective vaccine. Subsequently, an IDC White Paper gives insights on the uncertainties and concerns the supply chain leaders hold against the pharmaceutical supply chain. They believe that the pharmaceutical supply chain is vulnerable and that the on-time, in-full delivery of medicines and auxiliary products has dropped due to the continuation of Covid-19. Besides, the rising amount of criminal activities like theft, hijacking, counterfeit products, have further disrupted them to secure the pharmaceutical supply chain and valuables.

Easier said than done, The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has warned that the distribution of vaccines is “the biggest security challenge for a generation”. With these considerations in mind, the supply chain industry players have been gearing up their operation to deliver the vaccine worldwide. The industry players concur the importance of collaboration and cohesiveness across all parties to improve agility and visibility in the supply chain. With synergy, integrating hardware and software, as well as information sharing, the pharmaceutical supply chain effectiveness and performance, could be expedited.

Looking back to move forward

The incremental development of Covid-19 cases over the year 2020 has also increased the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), miscellaneous medical supplies and devices. TAPA has observed the increasing number of cargo crimes and high cargo risks, especially in the pharmaceutical supply chain “because the threat of cargo theft is never far away”. Air cargo and land transport industry players such as KLM, Virgin Atlantic, UPS, FedEx have been constructively advancing their operation and services to develop a secured and reliable pharmaceutical supply chain environment.

Multiple components—from the chemical material to packaging, appliances and equipment, are essential and thus high value for any pharmaceutical production, eventually provoking worldwide cargo crime. On the other hand, illegal product diversion is also among the major crimes in the pharmaceutical industry. With the recent announcement of Covid-19 vaccine and it being a temperature-controlled substance to be in large production and distribution, the cold chain is under unprecedented attention. How should we keep the supply chain and all parties protected and on alert? How do we keep a close eye on the pharmaceutical supply chain?

Towards a sensible pharmaceutical supply chain

The measure towards a sensible and secure pharmaceutical supply chain is to reinforce the hardware and incorporate digitalization into the conventional operation. The marriage of hardware and solution could benefit the supply chain more than just operation efficiency but also visibility. Transparency in the supply chain could eliminate the grey areas and fragility, ultimately enable full monitoring of the environment and data analytics.

In terms of combating cargo crime, the main commodities in play are undoubtedly the tamper-proof security seals. From high-security seals made of hardened pin and bush (see. High-Security Seals), to plastic indicative seals (see. Indicative Seals) for authentication purposes, a variety of irreversible identifiers, such as barcode and QR code, can be etched on the body for operation efficiency and uphold the product integrity.

The ability to register and store end-to-end information within a secure and real-time database establishes information and knowledge sharing with all parties on the “what, when, where, and how” of a product. Reinforcement in the customs security is possible with simple scanning of the identifier at the border to gain information about the journey. With security seals and technology, we can effectively and collectively achieve comprehensive security and visibility in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

In addition to digitalization and Industrial Revolution 4.0, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) are indeed vital for cold chain monitoring. IoT technology offers a variety of possibilities, and a more thrilling aspect is real-time monitoring which grants industry players comprehensive sensors and immediate alerts throughout the journey. The IoT technology can capture fluctuations in location, temperature, humidity, light, and shock – all in one for the cold chain requirement. This allows sensor-collected data to be streamed continuously for immediate access and therefore provides greater visibility with every step of the way, with no space for human error. Besides, trucks play a crucial role in pharmaceutical products distribution. With GPS trackers installed on the trucks, industry players can gain sensor-collected data such as location, vehicle and fuel status, temperature, and others to plan efficient routes and stay alert.

Keep an eye on the supply chain

Mega Fortris is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of security seals, container bolt seals, tamper-evident products, and complete solutions for the securing of goods. The award-winning and standards accredited company offers a full range of highly tamper-evident and cost-competitive security products. With the versatility and efficiency of the products and services, the company is ready to serve the industry players intent to implement traceability in their operation.

Our security seal solutions have been recognised worldwide for its high quality and compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements and environmental legislations. Our range of tamper-proof and trackable security seals, bags, labels and tapes can be used across a variety of receptacles used across the supply chain, from trailer doors, containers, trucks, cartons, and boxes.

To learn more about the wide range of security seals available for different types of cargo and modes of transport, visit Mega Fortris Group, a trusted, world-class security seal designer and manufacturer with over 20 years of experience.

Despite global lockdowns that restrict the movement of vehicles and people, cargo theft has been on the rise since the pandemic broke out. These cargo thefts have not been limited to a particular region. Rather, it is a global problem that is putting businesses at risk at any point in the supply chain.

During the first half of 2020, over €85m worth of products were stolen across 3,278 cargo theft according to TAPA’s Incident Information Service (IIS) database. These thefts occurred across supply chains of 46 countries in the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region. The cargo theft was reported across every mode of transport: air, road, sea, and rail freight.

Meanwhile, in North America, CargoNet reports there has been a 107% jump in cargo thefts in April 2020 when compared to April 2019. A total of 1,080 thefts have been reported in the U.S. and Canada up to the end of September 2020.

Pandemic Panic & Desperation Causing Cargo Theft Spike

Cargo theft isn’t anything new. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns that impact the global economy, thieves are taking advantage of the pandemic panic and disruptions to supply chains as windows of opportunity.

Many of these organised crimes target cargos for goods that can be sold on the black market. With panic around the coronavirus circulating amongst the general population, thieves are taking advantage of stealing and selling pandemic-related goods on the black market.

In 2020, millions of pandemic-related goods have been reported stolen, which includes face masks, medical suits and gowns, respirators, hand sanitisers, and toilet rolls. These thefts incrementing to seven-figure financial losses have been reported in Spain, Kenya, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Norway, and England.

Pandemic-related items are not the only target. Other types of goods that sell well on the black market and are commonly reported as stolen in cargo theft include computers, laptops, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, clothing and footwear, phones, food and drink, cosmetics and hygiene, and sports equipment.

Organised crime isn’t the only contributor to the spike in cargo theft since the pandemic. Authorities have observed a rise of Inside jobs, as employees have struggled with reduced hours, time away from work due to COVID-19 exposure, or the stress and anxiety of the pandemic.

The Real Cost of Cargo Crime

The impact of cargo theft upon a business goes beyond the market value of the goods stolen. Cargo theft can also negatively impact a business in other ways.

When stolen goods are available on the black market at a cheaper price, it can impact other sales for the business through reputed channels and stifle business growth. It can also damage the reputation of a business as it can leave consumers to question the authenticity, safety, or quality of goods from a brand that has become notorious for having fake or stolen products available for cheap on the black market. Consumers may then prefer a competitor’s brand for which they have more trust.

There are also other aspects of cargo crime, beyond cargo theft, that can put businesses at risk. BSI’s Supply Chain Risk Exposure Evaluation Network (SCREEN) Intelligence also list illegal drug smuggling, child labour, and human trafficking as other forms of cargo crime. If a business gets targeted by organised crime—or in some cases, criminals that take advantage of corrupt or desperate personnel for a collaborative inside job—the resulting legal ramifications could significantly damage the entire business.

With the wide risk and domino impact that cargo crime can create, protecting the supply chain is a critical investment for every business.

Preserving the Integrity of the Supply Chain with Security Seals

Any business that involves logistics will benefit from the use of tamper-proof security seals. Whether or not you’ve faced cargo theft before, and no matter how much you think you trust the people who work for you, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Tamper-proof security seals can be used to verify that trailers, compartments, and rail autos convey items have not been broken into or messed around with during transport. A compartment sent needs to be secured so that upon landing it is protected. This is carried out to ensure the last objective ports of the items and to secure the end client of the item.

As we continue to battle against the pandemic which has impacted all business operations / Industries, it is becoming ever more vital to adapt to changes in procedures to ensure the safety of employees and customers. During these unprecedented times, we have been working with many organisations to develop new safety products to provide an added layer of security in various diverse operations.

Tamper Evident Vehicle Key Bags

We are proud to announce the launch of our new “VEHICLE KEY BAGS” which allow the safe and secure storage and movement of vehicle keys. The vehicle key bag allows the keys to be secured safely and also features a tamper-evident security closure which will act to show if any attempt of tampering is made to the bag. The bags also feature an information box which includes details such as vehicle reg, name, date and time. It also has a perforated tab at the top which works as a receipt for the customer. To allow for easy integration into an automated system, there is also a barcode 128 which comes as standard.

Sanitised & Quarantined Tamper Evident Labels

Our non- residue Sanitised and Quarantined labels leave a clear ‘Void/Open’ message when any attempt of removal is made. The message will clearly illustrate any attempt of tampering whilst leaving no residue on the application surface.
Protects product integrity by giving a clear indication of any tampering, unauthorised entry, potential fraud and possible cross-contamination of Covid-19.
Interior and exterior doors and panels, car/van doors, hotel rooms, office doors, cupboards, fuel caps, cash boxes etc.

Car Dealerships

The labels and key bags can be used in conjunction within car dealerships/showrooms. The tamper-evident key bags are designed to secure the keys whilst service/repair/test drives etc are being conducted. The bags facilitate the secure storage of the keys, whilst a tamper-evident closure gives reassurance to both staff and customers that no unauthorised entry and consequent possible contamination to the keys has been made. The keys can still be activated through the bag and can therefore be returned in the same condition as received.

Our safety labels have been tried and tested for use in car dealerships between each test drive/demo. Currently, cars are Sanitised between each test drive, and a label then placed on the car door. Any subsequent attempt to remove it will again highlight any breach in security and possible cross-contamination threat.

Car Hire Service

Similarly, the car hire industry can also utilise this bag within its activity. Allocation of the keys via the bags will give peace of mind to the customers that the keys have been properly sanitised. Furthermore, the bags can also be used to quarantine the keys when returned by a customer, therefore allowing staff to log the contents and take the necessary steps to sanitise and quarantine etc.

At Mega Fortris, we understand the importance of keeping a business running in these difficult times and appreciate the challenges organisations face right now. If you have a query regarding implementing safety features in your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

Due to high demand we quickly sold out our first batch of stock, the second batch will now be available from Monday 29th June 2020. Preventing the spread of Covid-19 has been the motivation behind the development of these labels. The labels are designed to offer peace of mind by detecting any possible cross-contamination or security breach throughout operations. The labels can be customised if required, so please get in touch if you would like further information on how to implement such safety measures.

Development of Security Labels

Working in conjunction with a large hotel chain, we have developed a new security void label which allows them to stop any cross-contamination for their customers. Mega Fortris UK have developed a Non-transfer void label which is designed to be placed on the door of the hotel room once sanitised. Any subsequent entry to the room once it has been sanitised will be clearly indicated by the label’s void message upon attempted removal. This will allow the hotel to act accordingly if any unauthorised entry has been made to any of the rooms. It will also provide peace of mind to the customer if the label is intact following sanitisation.

“Sanitised” Security Label Features:

Our non- residue labels leave a clear ‘Void/Open’ message when any attempt of removal is made. The message will clearly illustrate any attempt of tampering whilst leaving no residue on the application surface.
Advanced tamper evident solution with a high contrast matt finish giving an excellent VOID and a surface that can be written on in biro.
Protects product integrity and prevents any tampering, unauthorised opening and potential fraud.
Exterior doors and panels, catering trolleys, tote boxes, ballot boxes, mobile phones, computer ports, office doors, cupboards, fuel caps, cash boxes, warranty void seals, vehicle doors.

Car dealership Security Label

Our security labels can be adapted for use in many industries and applications. Car dealerships are currently using them to provide a clear indication of when vehicles have been sanitised following test drives/demos, thus preventing cross-contamination and the spread of COVID-19. Utilising the labels in this way provides both the dealership and customer with the confidence that the car they are test driving has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.

Retail Industry

The retail industry is having to adapt to new procedures in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Quarantine of clothes after having been returned or tried on is a procedure all will have to follow. To ensure this process runs smoothly we have developed a quarantine label which allows staff to know when and how long the products have been quarantined.

Other Applications

Our security labels can be applied to a wide range of applications across many industries where safety, preventing cross-contamination and stopping the spread of COVID-19 has to be considered.

We at Mega Fortris know the importance of keeping a business running in these vital times and understand the challenges organisations face right now. If you have a query regarding any safety features in your business, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call +60351226118.