MBO headquarters hit by flooding

Finishing equipment manufacturer MBO has been hit by flooding following heavy rain in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany yesterday (13 January).

The company issued a statement stating that machine assembly and the delivery of spare parts would be affected until around 20 January.

However, UK supplier Friedheim has said that it was "business as usual" for UK users. Financial director Mark Bristow said: "We always stock a significant level of MBO stock and the facility in Portugal is of course unaffected."

The MBO statement, posted on the company's website, said: " Our company was hit by heavy flooding last Thursday, January 13. In particular assembly, production and storage are affected.

"We believe that  as of 20 January, the delivery of spare parts and machine assembly will begin again. The service and equipment demonstrations are not affected."

Videos have appeared on Youtube featuring MBO's site in the city of Oppenweiler, which has taken the brunt of the weather after the River Murrs burst its bank.

Online data on the average flow rate of the River Murr at Oppenweiler showed a surge from around eight cubic metres per second on Wednesday to 150 cubic metres per second on Thursday.

Among the videos were external and internal shots of MBO's headquarters, with water flowing through.

Bristow said on Friday (14 January): "A combination of melting snow and heavy rainfall hit the area, temporarily they had to leave yesterday. The water quickly subsided and they are back in today. It is business as usual."