Things are gradually returning to normal at Engel´s flood-damaged factory for injection moulding machines in Schwertberg (A-4311 Schwertberg; www.engel.at). Only four weeks after the devastating floods on 8th and 12th August, the central assembly units/replacement parts warehouse, the paint shop and the machine assembly department are already back in operation. Top priority has been given to the dismantling, cleaning and re-assembly of the machines that were already assembled and awaiting despatch at the time of the floods. Preparations are at the same time being made for the delivery of new orders from around the end of October.

When the floods inundated Engel´s Schwertberg factory, there were 130 machines in the assembly halls in various stages of completion. These machines are all being rebuilt, whereby those components and assembly units which are susceptible to water – the hydraulics, electrics and electronics – are being fully replaced. This will ensure that the machines will be of the same high standard of quality which customers have always been accustomed to receiving from Engel. Ten of these machines were already delivered in week 38, and a further 15 machines are scheduled for delivery in the following week. It is estimated that all “flood machines” – fully restored – will have been delivered to customers by the end of October.

Until such time as the machining department at Schwertberg can resume normal operations, Engel has initiated a whole package of measures aimed at guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of the necessary mechanical components for the many orders that still have to be processed. Engel´s factories at St. Valentin and Dietach, for example, have been able to make additional machine capacity available by introducing new working arrangements based on a five-shift, round-the-clock day and a seven-day week. This increased capacity will cover approximately 25 % of requirements. In addition, co-operation agreements have been signed with a number of suppliers in order to ensure the complete, continuous and well organized supply of component parts from the end of October onwards.

A further focal point of immediate action was the preparation of the machines planned for exhibition at the forthcoming trade fairs – “Interplas” in Birmingham / UK and “Fakuma” in Friedrichshafen / Germany. Despite the devastation caused by this natural catastrophe, Engel will be participating in both of these fairs and also in a further four international trade fairs with a full exhibition programme and in customary Engel style.

At first glance, the assembly department looks (almost) as though nothing has happened. Resumption of machine assembly work at Schwertberg on 16th September 2002: the dismantling, cleaning and re-assembly of the machines contaminated by the floodwater has now begun. (Source: Engel)