German plastics machinery maker Arburg (Loßburg; www.arburg.com) has completed an expansion of its facility in Brno / Czech Republic. The approximately EUR 1m investment at the Arburg Technology Center has increased the floor space by 615 m² to 1,660 m², providing additional space for automation solutions and turnkey systems plus a separate area for a Freeformer 3D printing machine and additive manufacturing. Groundbreaking for the project took place last year – see Plasteurope.com of 04.08.2014.

Michael Hehl, a managing partner at Arburg, said the company now has space to install, test and optimise three automated production cells. The expansion will help meet rising demand for automated solutions, which is growing by 10-15% in the Czech and Slovak markets, he added.

Daniel Orel, manager of the Brno subsidiary, said that, with the addition of the Freeformer and additive manufacturing, the subsidiary will become a central point of contact for existing and prospective customers from eastern and central Europe. Orel took over from former subsidiary manager Jaroslav Novak at the end of last year.