Rumours that KraussMaffei Technologies (Munich / Germany; www.kraussmaffei.com) – the former Mannesmann Plastics Machinery (mpm, Munich; www.mpm-group.com) – was negotiating with an interested party about the takeover of injection moulding machinery manufacturer Demag Plastics Group (Schwaig / Germany; www.dpg.com) obviously were true. The German anti-trust authority, Bundeskartellamt has reported that Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Tokyo / Japan; www.shi.co.jp) has applied for permission to acquire the company.

Demag CEO Klaus Erkes declined to comment to Plasteurope.com on the possible deal, which will include the India-based joint venture L&T-Demag Plastics Machinery and Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co in China. Demag had been managed separately by Madison Capital Partners since the private equity company merged Berstorff with KraussMaffei to create the new KraussMaffei Technologies in March 2007 – see Plasteurope.com of 22.03.2007.