Shoichi Ohira has joined the management board of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery as COO and Head of Production.
A certified production expert, Ohira has become established as an injection moulding machine expert with the Japan-based parent company Sumitomo Heavy Industries, with subsidiaries in China and the US. Ohira brings vast experience to the role, with recent positions including Head of Production and Quality Management.
His new responsibilities will focus on production optimisation, efficiency and significantly reducing cycle times, which he considers his first priority.
Speaking on the appointment, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag CEO Gerd Liebig said: “Following the rising growth rates we experienced in recent years, we are now focusing on increasing production performance and stabilising production capacity on the high level. Mr Ohira has valuable experience in the optimisation of complex production processes. He will follow through with the already initiated investments in our facilities in Schwaig, Wiehe (Germany) and Ningbo (China).”
The global development and production network of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is comprised of four facilities in Japan, Germany and China, employing more than 3,000 people between them.
The product portfolio includes all-electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection moulding machines and the company ranks among the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s German facilities produce the Systec Servo range with hybrid drive as well as the El-Exis SP and Systec SP range of high-speed, high-performance machines. The all-electric IntElect range for international customers is also being produced in Germany.

CEO Gerd Liebig and Shoichi Ohira
CEO Gerd Liebig and Shoichi Ohira
With its comprehensive sales and service network of subsidiaries and agencies, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in all major markets.