Coronavirus prompts Arburg to cancel Technology Days

LOSSBURG, Germany—Arburg GmbH + Co. KG has canceled its International Technology Days due to the spreading coronavirus.

The German machinery maker had expected up to 6,000 visitors at its headquarters in Lossburg for the 2020 event, March 11-14.

The event was canceled Feb. 26.

"Arburg takes the developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) very seriously. The responsible parties at the company have followed the situation over the past few days with great concern and analyzed it intensively," the company said in a written statement. "This is because the health of customers, partners and employees has the highest priority. ... On the basis of information currently available, the decision was made not to take any risks."

Arburg said there were no known cases in the direct vicinity, and the more was "purely preventative."

The company still will host an event marking the opening of its training center on March 6, with representatives from the local region.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said earlier in the day of Feb. 26 that Germany is facing "the beginning of a coronavirus epidemic."

"Unfortunately, the situation has changed in the last few hours. That has to be said, unfortunately," Spahn said in reports from Germany.