Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH is set to achieve its highest-ever sales volume in the 2017 financial year. It is anticipated that last year’s excellent order book and continuing strong sales in the current year will see revenues increase by 17% to EUR 273 million in 2017. Headquartered in Schwaig near Nuremburg, this manufacturer of injection moulding machinery beat its previous record year of 2015, with sales hitting EUR 234 million in 2016. Forecasts for 2018 are also extremely positive.
The main reasons behind this positive trend are the continuing success of the market-leading El-Exis high-speed machine for the production of plastic packaging materials; high demand for InElect all-electric machines from manufacturers of technical precision parts for the electronics and automotive industries; and a stronger focus on booming regional markets.
This latest increase means that the German-Japanese company’s sales have grown for the fifth consecutive year. CEO Gerd Liebig confirms the assumption that he made about his company’s performance earlier in the year: “Our customer base has consolidated.” He puts it down to a strong market for packaging materials and applications for all-electric machines.
According to Liebig, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has continued to grow its market share in the two most strategically important product areas: packaging applications and all-electric machines. In the case of high-speed injection moulding machines, such as for thin-walled packaging and screw caps and closures, market share grew from 13% in 2015 to 18% in 2016 and 2017 and is expected to reach 20% in the coming year. Its market share for all-electric machines increased from 13% in 2015 to 17% in 2016 and on to 18% in 2017. It is expected to reach 20% in 2018. The new generation of IntElect that was launched in 2017 is expected to make a major contribution in this respect. The mid-size IntElect models will also be updated in 2018.
A 20% increase in orders received is anticipated for the current year. Liebig also expects ordering to be brisk in the coming year, with an expected single-digit increase compared to 2017. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag also expects to see renewed impetus from the medical products and plastic packaging materials markets, along with orders for machinery with increased automation, and expanded service offerings.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag expects the order backlog from 2017 and the continuing high level of orders in 2018 to result in sales increasing by around 22%.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag at Fakuma 2017: Hall B1, Stand 1105
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has shaped the development of the plastics industry from its very beginning. As a specialist for injection moulding machines for plastics processing, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag and its Japanese parent company are leading the industry.
The global development and production network of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is comprised of four facilities in Japan, Germany and China with more than 3,000 employees. The product portfolio includes all-electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection moulding machines with clamping forces of between 180 and 20.000 kN. With more than 115,000 installed machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in important global markets.
At Sumitomo’s headquarters in Chiba, Japan, the company manufactures machines with clamping forces in the small to medium range. Nearly 95 % of all delivered machines are equipped with an all-electric drive concept. More than 5,000 machines sold per year make Sumitomo Heavy Industries and its plastics machinery division one of the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world.
Demag’s German facilities in Schwaig and Wiehe 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.
As early as 1998, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag set up its first production site in Ningbo/China. In 2015, the Chinese subsidiary Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. installed a new facility with a 13,000 m² floor space. It is earmarked for the production of the Systec C range with clamping forces of between 500 and 10,000 kN for the Asian market.
In addition to injection moulding machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag offers customised and standardised systems for the part handling automation, technical and process solutions for special applications, tailored services and service concepts as well as a range of financial options to support investment in injection moulding machines.
With its comprehensive sales and service network of subsidiaries and agencies, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in all major markets.
