German plastics machinery manufacturers appear headed for another sales peak. The plastics and rubber committee in the German Engineering Federation VDMA (www.kug.vdma.org) has again revised its forecast for 2011 upward. Based on growth in incoming orders through the third quarter, committee chairman Ulrich Reifenhäuser said annual revenue is now expected to rise by 22% against 2010 to a record of nearly EUR 6 bn, up from the 18% forecast in September – see Plasteurope.com of 23.09.2011. In June, the manufacturers had expected 7% higher sales – see Plasteurope.com of 20.06.2011.

According to committee managing director Thorsten Kühmann, new orders increased by 15% year-on-year overall from January to September 2011, with domestic orders up 13% and foreign orders up 16%. But while this has been a record year for many German manufacturers, the roller coaster ride that whisks the industry through up and down cycles appears to be hurtling again toward the valley. Compared with last year’s “very high level,” new order growth has slowed from month to month, and Kühmann said a sales decline of around 7% appears in store for 2012.