Letter from Ukraine
Introduction by Robin Bradley
Most people will be familiar with the Supersprox name, one of the market's premier sprocket brands. Many may realise that Supersprox is a multinational operation, with interests in Italy, Poland, Czechia and manufacturing in Ukraine - around 150 km west of the capital Kyiv.
On Tuesday February 24th, the day that Russia started to invade Ukraine for the second time in recent history, I received a call around midday from 'DJ' Maughfling at Supersprox. DJ is an excellent character and a hard working, honourable man - a proverbial 'good guy' and a good friend to us here at IDN.
I had emailed him that morning to check in with him and see how things were - given the events that the world had woken up to that morning - and he called me back a little while later. I asked him to write something of what he had told me about the environment and atmosphere at work in Ukraine that day, and if it would be okay to share his thoughts with
all of you.
This is what 'DJ' said…
"The world seems to be in a confused state these days. Lives revolve around the internet as a provider of our news. We flip through stories of famine, murder, genocide and cute dogs and cats. There is such a bombardment of images and sound bites. It is hard to really feel attachment to what is shown to us. Especially the tragedies in the world, tragedies like Syria and Myanmar.
"They often don't have an emotional impact because we don't feel connected. It’s another tragedy in another country. But then something can happen that can turn your world on its head.
"Supersprox was founded in the United Kingdom by my father back in 1959. We set up a small and specialised company in Ukraine in 2008, and I have been working in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, since 2011. I am a British citizen and my wife is Slovak. We are foreigners, working in a third country. It’s not our native land. The team of Supersprox' Ukraine staff are about 80 people. We have built a business in the city, and it connects us to the community here. Several of our staff have worked in the company for more than ten years, almost from the beginning of our time in Ukraine.
"Today, (February 24th, 2022) we were awoken to bombing in Ukraine. A Russian military attack on an independent nation. In such a short period of time, our investments in Ukraine have changed from solid and dependable to something that could be blown away like a leaf in the wind.
"This new situation is hard to comprehend. Inside the country, there have been bombing raids in many regions. Mainly focused on the east, where most Russian forces are stationed. In the north, 'above' the capital Kyiv, and several other areas. There is a small military airbase about 5 km from the Supersprox factory. That was amongst the targets this morning.
"I can say that in this situation, I don't think about the investments. This becomes a situation where we think about the people and the company. We know that Europe and USA will not come to support the defence of Ukraine.
"We understand that the head of Russia is not too much concerned about sanctions from the West. What is lost from sanctions, will be compensated by the acquisition of new assets. This is not a political message or a jab at the Russian leader. We don't waste our time with those matters, because it will not help us in this situation.
"Today, our staff came to work, and we made sprockets. Tomorrow, we will come to work and make more sprockets, and we will continue doing that as long as there is metal, energy and people. During these years, Supersprox has worked hard to deliver innovation, quality and brand recognition. Much of that created here in Ukraine, by our staff.
"We have seen that the disputed territory in Eastern Ukraine suffered badly after the occupation by separatists. Our job now is to try and avoid the same situation in our region. Time will tell if Supersprox is destined to continue to be a player in the motorcycle market. The political chess game has little regard for pawns.
"From the company that invented dual material sprockets in 2000, forged blank technology in 2018 and pioneered aluminium sprockets in the 1970s, we thank our partners and clients for their support, and we have hope that this situation will not spread across borders. It is still our belief that we can work to save the company."
www.supersprox.com
DJ Maughfling
