Looking Back to Move Forward in Navigating COVID-19

 

A new year provides not just an opportunity for reflection, but a reason to pause and think about the future. Tyler Kern, host of Talkin’ Shop with Walbro, spoke with Jerry Kibby, the company’s Executive Vice President and President of Engine Management, about the current state of the engine management business. They also looked forward to what’s going to come in the future.

According to Kibby, similar to a lot of different companies in their industry, there was a lot of “up and down” in 2020. He reported that Walbro started out the year pretty strong, but COVID-19 started to make waves in January.

“We got early indications that COVID-19 was going to have a pretty significant effect. We have a plant in China that we had to shut down in January, because, as everyone knows, that was where it all started,” Kibby said.

Once that happened, they took some proactive steps.

“Our CEO, Matt Riddle, did a very great job in preparing the rest of the facilities on the backdrop of our China facility having to shut down. So, we saw that coming. And, sure enough, March came and, as you know, all the restrictions started happening,” Kibby explained.

Kibby is very proud to report that no Walbro employees caught COVID-19 at any of their plants.

“With all the added measures that we put in place worldwide, we’re just very proud of them,” Kibby said.

To continue this conversation, subscribe to Talkin’ Shop with Walbro on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

rubber
How Precision Engineering and Regulatory Complexity Shape the Future of Rubber Manufacturing
April 9, 2026

In an era where precision manufacturing often hides behind the simplicity of everyday products, the world of rubber components offers a striking reminder that complexity frequently lives beneath the surface. What appears to be a modest gasket or sealing element is, in reality, the product of highly specialized engineering, rigorous testing, and an…

Read More
tekniplex
Inside TekniPlex Gaggiano: How Specialized Manufacturing and Precision Engineering Define a True Center of Excellence
April 9, 2026

Manufacturing excellence today is less about scale alone and more about precision, control, and adaptability—especially in industries where even microscopic inconsistencies can have outsized consequences. As global supply chains grow more complex and regulatory standards tighten, facilities that invest in specialized processes and contamination control are quietly becoming the backbone of innovation. Segregated…

Read More
materials
Tekniplex Showcases Sustainable Materials Innovation at Paris Packaging Week 2026
April 9, 2026

At Paris Packaging Week 2026, Tekniplex didn’t just exhibit—it staged an experience that reflected the evolving intersection of materials science and brand storytelling. The company’s modern booth, complete with a living wall and immersive digital displays, signaled a broader shift in how packaging innovators are choosing to engage a sustainability-conscious audience. Beneath the…

Read More
Paris Packaging
Paris Packaging 2026: How Material Science and Global Innovation Are Reshaping the Future of Packaging
April 9, 2026

In an era where sustainability, performance, and consumer expectations are colliding, packaging has quietly become one of the most dynamic frontiers of innovation. What was once viewed as a functional afterthought is now a strategic lever—one that blends advanced science, manufacturing precision, and an increasingly human-centered understanding of market needs. Material science, in this…

Read More