European Plastics Machinery Manufacturers Significantly Improve Sales

Bernhard Merki, president of the European Plastics and Rubber Machinery Manufacturers Association (Euromap), said: "The global economic crisis in 2009 caused a great impact on us." Compared to 2008, the main machinery in 2009 - such as injection molding machines, blow molding machines, extrusion The output of the machine was reduced by 30.2%, and the output of auxiliary equipment was reduced by 27.7%.

On October 29th, Merki said at the press conference held by Euromap and VDMA during the K show that this year's situation has improved.

Merki said that by the end of 2009, the machinery industry had shown signs of recovery and continued to this year. Euromap expects total output for 2010 to increase by 10-15%.

He said: "Now we are not far from the level before the crisis. Now we are continuing to move toward this goal with a good momentum."

Merki said that the auto industry has also seen a significant improvement. It is also a manufacturer of injection molding machines Netstal-Maschinen AG based in Näfels, Germany. Merki, the company’s president and CEO, said: “Customers are now considering buying high-tech equipment.”

Just before the opening of 2010K, VDMA just updated its sales forecast for Germany's plastics and rubber machinery in 2010, from the previous increase of 11% to 15%. Thorsten Kühman, general manager of VDMA, said: "The recovery momentum that has been evident since the fourth quarter of 2009 is well maintained."

According to statistics from VDMA, from January to August this year, the number of industry orders increased by 77% compared with the same period in 2009. Kühmann said: "This growth rate is really amazing."

The number of German machinery orders increased by 55% compared to 2009. Exports soared by 87%, mainly to China, India and some Latin American countries.