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Germany’s converters see poor ongoing sales


Sales at German plastics converters have fallen for the second year in succession. Trade organisation


TecPart says that market and structural problems are continuing to depress Germany’s plastics convert- ing sector – which saw sales fall by 4.3% in 2024, to €69.7 billion. The worst performing segments in 2024 were technical parts (including automotive and electrical and electronics), where sales fell 5.6% to €19.7bn; and construction, which was 6.4% lower at €22.0bn. Sales in the packaging segment fell by 1.6% to €16.4bn, while in consumer products the decline was 1.4% to €11.6bn. A second year of weak demand has led to more


than 80% of German plastics converters complaining of a ‘severe to very severe’ lack of orders, with only 20% expecting an increase in profits, said TecPart, report- ing the findings of its annual member survey. “We are looking at drastic


cost increases, migration and capacity reductions among our plastics proces- sors and internationally sourcing customers,” said Felix Loose, chairman of TecPart and managing partner of Roga Group. There are other indicators


of the severity of the impact on Germany’s plastics manufacturing industry that TecPart reported: “Falling sales and rising personnel costs meant that only 14% of companies were able to increase their profits in


2024. Profits fell for more than half of companies, with negative consequences for the number of employees – which fell by 2% to around 310,000,” it said. The survey showed that a consequence of poor market conditions in Germany is that 84% of plastics processors intend to maintain or reduce their investment levels. Plans for rationalisation measures, on the other hand, are increasing.


One bright spot high- lighted by TecPart is that the proportion of recyclates in plastic parts increased slightly from 18.7% in 2023 to 19.5% in 2024, though the quantity processed remained constant due to the decline in orders in this segment. �www.tecpart.de


Gerresheimer in takeover talks


German medical packaging maker Gerresheimer is in “early-stage discussions” with private equity investors over a potential sale, according to a report in


Bloomberg News. The report said the company was working with advisers to gauge interest from possible buyers. “Such discussions are still


in a very preliminary stage,” it said in a statement. “It is not foreseeable at this point whether a public takeover offer will actually be made.” � www.gerresheimer.com


Expanded lighting range


Automotive supplier Forvia Hella has expanded its SlimLine product family with a new LED combination lamp. It is suitable for many types of commercial vehicle, including agricultural and construction machinery. “With this new lamp, we are diversifying our portfolio and offering a wide selection of lighting solutions,” said Stefan van Dalen, managing director of lifecycle solutions at the company. The slim design allows for easy integration into different vehicle architectures, the company said. Made of


impact-resistant polycarbonate, it resists vibrations and operates in a temperature range of -40°C to +60°C. �www.forvia.com


www.injectionworld.com January/February 2025 | INJECTION WORLD 5


Novares opens new Czech plant


Novares has opened a new plant in the Czech Republic that will supply injection moulded parts to a range of automotive manufacturers. The facility, in Cerhov-


ice, replaces a previous one in Zebrak. It will continue to serve the same customers – BMW, Stellantis, Toyota and Tesla – with interior, exterior and engine parts. The 20 000 sq m building is designed to accommodate 250 employees. It houses 32 injection machines, five robot lines, vertical presses and automated serial tools to help it meet customer deadlines. “The birth of a new


plant – replacing one that died in a fire – shows the phoenix style of our company,” said Pierre Boulet, CEO of Novares. Novares, which supplies parts to OEMs and Tier 1 companies, achieved sales of €1.1 billion in 2024 and has 37 plants in 22 countries. �www.novaresteam.com


IMA


GE: FORVIA HELLA


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