Injection moulding machine manufacturer Demag Plastics Group (DPG, Schwaig / Germany; www.dpg.com) is implementing a reconstruction programme that will reduce the number of machine platforms it produces to three and will run until the end of 2008, said Klaus F. Erkes, DPG CEO on 4 July in Schwaig. "We were simply not focused and were producing more than 20 platforms with overlapping applications," he said. That is now history as the company has already downsized to only 12 machine platforms in modular design, with the figure set to fall to three by 2009.

One step towards attaining this target was the closure of the company's production plant in Cleveland, Ohio / USA – see Plasteurope.com of 09.07.2007 208473. Another was the sale of the casting facility in Jünkerath / Germany, which three years ago was regarded as an important asset for the group thanks in part to its flexibility. If such decisions could be made at the conference table, mused Erkes, the company would really only need one plant in Germany and one in China – true to the motto "local production with local design for local markets." However, he denied that there were plans to merge the German plants in Schwaig and Wiehe.

Like most of its competitors, Demag intends to focus on applications and concentrate on a few standard machines with a modular structure in the small to medium clamping force segment. Medical technology, packaging, electronics and automotive are now the buzzwords. Specialised sales and technical teams will service relevant customers.