NEWS
Amaplast reports record year in Italian machinery sector
In 2023, plastics and rubber machin- ery production in Italy set a record of over €4.8bn, according to the Ama- plast-MECS Statistical Study Centre. Exports, accounting for more than
70% of production in the sector, showed robust growth with a positive trend in all main machinery types for primary processing with the highest market share going to moulds (24%), extruders (12%), and injection moulding machines (5%). Europe is a primary destination of these products with an overall share of 56%, but there
Milacron owner makes cuts
Hillenbrand has an- nounced a cost savings and restructuring program in its Molding Technology Solutions (MTS) business to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. The MTS segment, which includes Milacron machinery and Moldmas- ters hot runners, posted revenue of $205m in the group’s first quarter which ended 31 December 2023, a 16% annual decrease due to lower volumes for injection moulding and hot runner equipment. Its order backlog of $232m was 31% lower compared to the prior year. The MTS restructuring
program is expected to generate annual run-rate savings of $15m. �
https://hillenbrand.com
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Italian market for plastics and rubber machinery (millions of euros)
Production Exports Imports
2022 2023 (est.) 4,670 3,250 1,120
Domestic market 2,540 Trade balance
2,130
4,820 3,410 1,160 2,570 2,250
Source: Amaplast-MECS Statistical Study Center
has been a surge in North American markets, particularly Mexico. The Middle East has also shown a positive trend, driven principally by Saudi
Arabia (+107%) and Israel (+47%). Exports to the Far East, on the other hand, have seen a deceleration due to contraction in China and India. Amaplast said the production
figures exceed expectations in a period during which the post-pan- demic rebound was tempered by negative impacts from wars, shortages in electronic components, the volatility of raw material and energy prices, slowdowns in other economies and increasing inflation. �
www.amaplast.org
Gerresheimer invests $88m in US
Gerresheimer is to invest more than $88m in expand- ing operations in Peachtree City, Georgia, US. The Germany-based company offers a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical containment solutions, drug
delivery systems, and medical devices as well as solutions for the cosmetics industry. Its existing facility is already being expanded with operations set to begin in April 2024.
Dietmar Siemssen, CEO
of Gerresheimer, said: “The US market is an important growth driver for us, and the expansion of our operations in Peachtree City will be key for growing our medical device business in the US.” �
www.gerresheimer.com
ZKW’s €100m expansion in Mexico
Automotive lighting group ZKW has commissioned a third 15,700 m² extension at its plant at Silao, Mexico, at a cost of €100m, and broken ground on a further 7,000 m² expansion phase as it moves to increase produc- tion capacity in line with customer demand. “The long-term goal is to
further strengthen ZKW’s growth strategy, especially for the USMCA market. By 2026, ZKW México plans to produce around 4.5m headlights per year with up to 4,000 employees,” said Dominique Boulegue,
INJECTION WORLD | January/February 2024
General Plant Manager ZKW México. ZKW México produces complete headlamps, as well as cover lenses, optical lenses, and electronic
components for lighting. From 2025, headlights and centre lamps for VW and GM are to be produced in Silao. �
https://zkw-group.com
www.injectionworld.com
IMAGE: ZKW
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