Compared with the first half of 2019, injection moulding machine manufacturer Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is ending the first half of 2020 with a healthy order book. During the first six months, the value of incoming orders for machines produced in Germany rose by almost 25 per cent.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag reports machine order increase during corona crisis
(L-R): Henrik Langwald, Paolo Zirondoli, Anatol Sattel, Jürgen Schulze, Arnaud Nomblot, Gerd Liebig, Siegfried Köhler, Thorsten Thümen
CEO Gerd Liebig attributed the success to orders placed by the packaging and medical technology sectors: "Our intentional strategic focus on these two growth markets over the past few years has placed us in a stronger position, helping us to survive during these difficult times with a strong order increase."
As with the entire plastics industry, demand from the automotive industry has slumped sharply for the Japanese-German manufacturer of injection moulding machines. The Group’s forecast for the consumer segment is also rather cautious. Due to the tense situation in the labour market and the declining propensity of consumers to buy, the company anticipates a lower inclination among moulders to invest.
In contrast, the packaging and medical segments are developing positively, and demand for all-electric machines is rising accordingly: "To cope with the increase in orders, we are utilising all available resources and increasing production capacities in our IntElect series considerably," Liebig added.
As a result of stable sales, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag expects to report a year-on-year 17 per cent increase in overall incoming orders for 2020. The plant in Wiehe, Germany, is operating at full capacity, according to Liebig. By the second half of 2020, the company expects to double production capacity again in order to meet demand.
As a result of this increase, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is pushing ahead with the planned co-operation with its Japanese parent company, with Japan commencing production of IntElect machines later in 2020.
