By its own account, the injection moulding machinery manufacturer Engel (Schwertberg / Austria; www.engelglobal.com) is having “an incredibly good time.” The “good mood, positive atmosphere and long delivery times” were indicators of an “almost overheated situation,” diagnosed CEO Stefan Engleder and CSO Christoph Steger during the company’s recent press conference at “Fakuma” (www.fakuma-messe.de) in Friedrichshafen / Germany.

However, the entire industry will have to prepare for “significant materials price increases,” Engleder warned. By optimising and investing in new capacities, Engel aims to further reduce delivery times in 2018. For the current fiscal year 2017/18 (31 March), Engel expects a turnover of around EUR 1.5 bn – an increase of 10% against the previous year’s EUR 1.36 bn.

Over three years ago, the global market leader in injection moulding machines started the most ambitious investment programme in the history of the Austrian company. Until 2020, a total of over EUR 375m will be funnelled into production facilities alone. “The first projects, with a total volume of almost EUR 120m, have already been completed,” said Engleder. “We continue to work with all our energy to rapidly complete our expansion and are constantly adapting our plans and priorities to changing circumstances.”

Engel has greatly benefited from 10 years of robust, continuous growth of the plastics processing industry. “We grew in all regions as well as in all relevant sectors,” said Engleder. At 55%, Europe generates the major share of the company’s turnover. America currently accounts for 24% of Engel’s sales and Asia represents another 20%.