Plastics processing technology provider Engel Austria (Schwertberg / Austria; www.engelglobal.com) recently opened a new service and sales office in Bangkok / Thailand. Opened in April, Engel Machinery is set to play a key role serving its customer base in Southeast Asia, a rapidly growing region for the fully family-owned company.

Both Indonesia and the Philippines will also be served by the location, which will be run by Gilles Lefevre, who serves as managing director of the new entity. The company had a sales presence in Thailand prior to the new office, but with demand growing, and the ability to react quickly, Engel realised it needed to extend its presence and expand its customer service capacities.

“Thanks to decentralised manufacturing in China and Korea, [we can] adapt our injection moulding machines and system solutions to the specific needs of local plastics processing firms,” notes Lefevre, who added that Engel is currently the only western producer of injection moulding machines with two production sites in Asia, saying that both plants have experienced significant expansion over the past business year.

Production of its injection moulding machines doubled at Pyungtaek / South Korea plant following a EUR 8m expansion and modernisation facelift – see Plasteurope.com of 22.03.2013.

In 2012, the company achieved a 10% market share in the relevant Asian market while generating turnover of EUR 135m, another record for the region. Engel attributes its Asian success to its continual investment in local sites.