An end to the expansion at Engel Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH (A-4311 Schwertberg) is not in sight. According to management spokesman, Dr. Peter Neumann, speaking at a press conference ahead of the Düsseldorf K '98, Engel's business had developed very well indeed – as it had in the entire injection moulding machine industry – and was booming on a broad front. Since the beginning of the year, capacity utilisation had increased enormously, with incoming orders from all segments, particularly from the automotive industry, showing above-average growth rates. In fiscal year 1997/98 (31.3.), sales rose to DEM 987m (702m). Engel, a family company, is – according to internal statistics – the world's biggest single-brand manufacturer of injection moulding machines. The biggest markets remain Europe with 50.8% and North America with 35.5%.

With the projected machine factory in South Korea (see Plasteurope.com 19, 1997), the company's Asian business, which has so far accounted for only 3%, is to be expanded significantly in the long term. For the current financial year, Neumann is expecting a further growth in production and sales, plus a stabilisation of the incoming order situation at a high level. Engel's global success is documented not least by the Supplier of the Year Award from General Motors. Engel received the much sought-after trophy for the second time in succession, and is the first ever injection moulding machine producer to receive it.

At the end of June a new robot plant from Engel Automatisierungstechnik mbH will be officially opened in Dietach near Steyr. The company is specialised in the construction of linear robots and automation solutions for injection moulding machines. Over the last few years, it has been achieving average growth rates of 25%. With this new production facility, which can produce more than 1,000 robots a year, Engel is aiming to win over more customers who are (still) using injection moulding machines from other manufacturers.

READER SERVICE: Press conference statement from Neumann plus press releases with further details and company portrait (German): PIE-No. 42866.