While all other regions were showing growth, injection moulding technology company Husky Injection Moulding Systems (Bolton, Ontario, Canada; www.husky.ca) – European HQ: L-3403 Dudelange – faced a 28% decline in sales, to USD 275m, in North America over the 2001 business year (31.7). This is reflected in the overall figure by a 10% decline to USD 640m (previous year: 711m). The collapse of the US market for plastics machinery to less than half its previous level led to a net loss of USD 7.8m, following profits of USD 9.1m in 2000. Husky also reported a significant decline in orders in Europe over the final quarter of the 2001 business year, while Latin America and Asia remained largely stable following high growth rates. The main focus at Husky over the year was naturally on reducing costs, which also included cutting back employee numbers, especially in North America.

As far as technical developments are concerned, Husky is placing high hopes in its move into PET bottle blow moulding, alongside improvements to hot runners, preform moulds and electric drives for injection moulding machines. As the leaders in mould and machine technology for the injection moulding of PET preforms, the company´s “Index SB” marks the development of the first single-stage system for the integrated injection moulding and stretch blow moulding of small bottle and container series. This innovation will be making its debut at “K 2001” (Hall 13).