After phenomenal sales growth of 53% for 1994/95, sales and profits for the Canadian machinery manufacturer Husky Injection Moulding Systems Ltd (European HQ: Zone Industrielle Riedgen, L-3401 Dudelange) declined for the financial year ending 31.07.96. A worldwide shortage of PET resin and a slowdown in the Latin American market were to blame according to company president, Robert Schad, but this was in part offset by a 33% increase in orders from Asia and a 10% rise in Europe. Turnover was down to USD 568.2m (1995: USD 608.7m) with net income of USD 33.0m (USD 50.1m).

During the year the company consolidated its European operations closing its German site (see Plasteurope.com 12, 1996) and expanding in Luxembourg. This included moving into a new 3,600m2 building set up for PET preform tools manufacture. The company also introduced two new lines of injection moulding machines. The G-Series, available from 160-750 tonnes, is intended for high-end general purpose markets like automotive, medical, communication and consumer products, while the E-Series is a range of two-platen, large tonnage machines ranging from 900-4,000 tonnes.

Future developments are expected to focus on a new generation of PET systems with increased output, and improved preform and bottle development services.

READER SERVICE: Annual Report 1996 (English): PIE-No. 40529 – Specification sheet for Husky's Moduline G-Series machines (English): PIE-No. 40530.