Haitian (Ningbo, Zhejiang / China; www.haitian.com), the top global maker of plastics injection moulding machinery in terms of unit sales, posted a new record of machines sold in 2020, underlining the tailwind from China’s positive economic growth while the rest of the world was reeling from the effects of Covid-19. It sold well over 43,000 units of machines compared to 32,000 units in 2019, to boost total revenues by 20.3% at CNY 11.8 bn (EUR 1.53 bn; see Plasteurope.com of 27.03.2020). Net profit grew 36.4% at CNY 2.3 bn.

Although sales in some overseas markets were severely affected by the pandemic, export sales at CNY 3.52 bn rose 2.1%, while domestic sales expanded 30.2% at CNY 8.28 bn despite a month-long shutdown in the first quarter, thanks to the strong demand from downstream customers.

Due to buoyant growth in mass medical products and packaging in the January-June period, more than 37,000 machines of the flagship “Mars” series were delivered, with revenues gaining 28.6% at CNY 8.2 bn. As the household appliance and automotive markets recovered in the second half of the year, revenues of the “Zhafir” and “Jupiter” series expanded 6.8% and 3.2%, respectively.

Looking ahead, Haitian’s 2021-2025 plan includes strengthening its global market presence, increasing the competitiveness in the high-end market and advancing digital manufacturing solutions. It also aims to standardise machinery components.

Haitian recently held the official groundbreaking ceremony to build a CNY 10 bn industrial park for advanced component and machinery manufacturing in Shunde County, near Foshan city in Guangdong province. The first phase of construction covers around 300,000 m² for the production of intelligent injection moulding machines, to be completed later by CNC machine tools, robotics and automation, and intelligent manufacturing systems.