To avoid any misunderstandings, there is no truth to the rumour that injection moulding machine manufacturer Demag Plastics Group (DPG, Schwaig / Germany; www.dpg.com) intends to market its machines in the colour pink, even though it looked that way for some time at K 2007, said CEO Klaus Erkes with a smile. So “ergotech blue” will stay.

The pink-coloured cover over the block on the Demag stand turned out to be hiding a newly designed, off-the-shelf machine. The “PinkLine” model, which is based on the all-hydraulic “Systec” line, is the successor to the “Extra” range, which will be phased out in 2008 along with its sister families, “Concept” and “System”. The machines, produced in Schwaig and Wiehe / Germany, have clamping forces from 350 to 4,200 kN, two injection units and three screw diameters. They also feature NC5 control and “activeQ” mould protection. There are no additional options for the basic machine; instead, particular value has been placed on reduced maintenance within this inexpensive range.

A machine such as this could be successful even on the European market, said Erkes. In the first few days of the exhibition, DPG had received orders for ten machines. In future, a local version of the PinkLine will be built at the company’s Chinese plant in Ningbo.

Overall, DPG's performance has improved under the leadership of Erkes, in part through working with several model lines. Although sales in 2007 are unlikely to be higher than the figure for 2005 (EUR 317m), there has been a recovery from the fall 2006 and for 2008 a rise of 2% is forecast – to around EUR 323m. In regional terms, Germany is the largest market with 39%, followed by the rest of western Europe with 30% and eastern Europe with 23%. The small remainder is divided up among the US (4%), China (3%) and the rest of Asia (1%).

Although Erkes did not give any details of earnings, they have increased considerably, rising by 5% year-on-year in 2006. This year should see earnings 32% higher than in 2005 and a target of 61% (on the 2005 figure) has been set for 2008.

In China, the plant in Ningbo has just been officially opened – see Plasteurope.com of 02.11.2006. The first machines in the two “Dragon” lines are due for delivery at the “Chinaplas” exhibition in April 2008. Electrical standard machines for the (European) mass market will also be manufactured at Ningbo from 2009. In the US, the sales have been geared to smaller machines. DPG has an estimated market share of 8% in the US in terms of machine numbers. The machine manufacturer also plans to expand its activities in the high-growth region of Russia.