Europe | market analysis
As Europe’s injection moulding sector continues its recovery from the global recession a more focused and cost effective industry is emerging. AMI Consulting’s Sylvia Tabero provides some exclusive insight into the market for Injection World readers
The injection moulding industry in Europe
The global recession of 2008 hit the European injection moulding sector hard, accelerating an already ongoing process of rationalisation. While the moulding industry is likely to see a further modest contraction in the number of operating sites over the coming years – AMI predicts a 2% reduction in the number of moulding sites by 2018 - polymer demand and industry values are now growing across almost every sector. As this process of recovery continues, a smaller, more cost-effective and more strategically-located supplier base is emerging.
Fragmented market Injection moulding is the most complex and fragmented of all plastics process- ing technologies. With more than 8,500 different injection moulding companies across Europe, according to AMI data, it is the largest processing sector in terms of the volumes of polymer processed and it converts the broadest range of materials. Applications range from micromouldings to large or multi-component structures that are
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decorated and/or assembled in the mould. Injection moulding companies vary considerably
across the continent, extending from small family- owned concerns to multinational groups. Business models also differ widely. Some custom moulders, for example, produce only from moulds provided by their customers; others offer a full design service and supply customers with a complete assembled, tested and packaged finished product that may include many additional bought-in components. AMI’s analysis of the European injection moulding industry shows that 78% of companies are producing custom mouldings; 48% produce proprietary mouldings, and 18% are carrying out injection moulding for in house use. While many of these companies are involved in a combination of activities, it is estimated that
40% of European moulders are purely involved in custom moulding. These companies are often consid- ered to have weak market power as they are wholly
Left: The requirements of industries such as electronics for highly integrated functional components presents
opportunities for European moulders. Image: 2E Mechatronic
January/February 2015 | INJECTION WORLD 11
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