CEO Frank Stieler can look back on a solid fiscal 2017 for plastics machinery manufacturer KraussMaffei (KM, Munich / Germany; www.kraussmaffei.com). Sales increased 8% to EUR 1.37 bn compared to the previous year, and order volume went up 6%. However, the family business traditionally does not talk about results.

According to Stieler, the “improved access to the Chinese market” had played an important role in the growth. In particular, the injection moulding machinery and reaction technology segments had benefited. In response to this development, the company intended to “increasingly adapt model series to regional needs,” but he would not give any details.

Investments of EUR 67m have been planned for this year, mainly in the areas of digitalisation and automation. The investments would be funnelled into machinery as well as IT infrastructure and software. With its recently initiated “Compass” project, KraussMaffei also wants to explore new business areas in digitalisation and define strategic objectives for the years to come. Necessary funds are to be collected by the planned IPO in China and a simultaneous increase in capital – see Plasteurope.com of 14.12.2017. Stieler did not comment on the amount of the expected financial boost.