(plasticstoday) -- With demand in Asia, especially China and its automotive market, growing at a swift pace, the leadership of injection molding machine manufacturer Engel (Schwertberg, Austria) decided to double the potential output of its facility in China, which currently is operating at 100% of its available capacity. MPW learned of the decision during a meeting with Engel CEO Peter Neumann in his company headquarters a few minutes after the decision was reached.
Engel manufactures its molding machines at two sites in Austria and one each in the U.S., Korea, and China. The plant in Shanghai makes large machines with clamp forces from 500 tonnes, and it is completely sold out, said Neumann. Almost all of the machines made there are sold in the domestic Chinese or in neighboring countries' markets, he added.
Neumann said the company has the land necessary to expand the Shanghai site, with the goal to double the size of the current facility by next year. "In about one year we hope to have it up and running," he said.