Following the tsunami catastrophe in Asia in December, companies and individuals from all over the world offered assistance. In Germany, SKF was producing a water-purification unit for its factory in Schweinfurt when a local manager realized that the unit would be useful in tsunami-stricken areas. He got clearance from local management to make some technical changes and offer it to those who needed it in Asia. By the end of January, SKF had sent the mobile water-purification unit to Indonesia for use in the region of Aceh. Schenker Cargo contributed to the effort by offering transportation free of charge.