Mannesmann AG (PO Box 103641, D-40027 Düsseldorf has achieved gradually what neither Klöckner with the acquisition of Maurer, Windsor and Desma nor Schloemann-Siemag with the acquisition of Battenfeld, Fischer and various other companies have managed. Via its manifold shares and interests, the Düsseldorf group with its approx. 137,000 employees and a turnover of DM 28bn (1992), mainly in the area of machine and plant engineering and in the steel pipe sector, has become the largest producer of rubber and plastics processing machines worldwide.

The plastics technology sector of Krauss-Maffei AG (Krauss-Maffei-Straße 2, D-80997 Munich) has contributed a great deal to this top position. Netstal Maschinen AG (CH-8752 Näfels) with a participation of 99.5% and Billion SA (1, av. Victor Hugo, F-01810 Bellignat) with 87.3%, both renowned manufacturers of injection moulding machines, are part of the Krauss-Maffei AG, in which Mannesmann holds a 71.3% majority of the stock. Furthermore, Mannesmann holds a 52% majority in the Hermann Berstorff Maschinenbau GmbH (PO Box 629, D-30006 Hannover), which got into difficulties due to serious management mistakes and which had to reduce the number of its employees by half during the previous year. The family company, formed in 1897, is a well-known manufacturer of machines for rubber and plastics processing.

Mannesmann Demag Kunststofftechnik (MDKT, Altdorfer Straße 15, D-90571 Schwaig) through Mannesmann Demag AG (Postf. 101507, D-47015 Duisburg), a 100% Mannesmann subsidiary, has also contributed to this success. In addition to the plant in Schwaig in Frankonia, an independent company in Wiehe in Thuringia, and the activities of the US company Van Dorn in the manufacture of plastics machinery are part of MDKT. This business division was taken over by the American Crown Cork & Seal Co Inc in Philadelphia in May 1993. The Van Dorn Demag Co in Strongville, Ohio, which – since its purchase – has been run as an autonomous profit centre, has produced a large range of injection moulding machines at its main location and in Brunswick, Fountain-Inn and Duncan.

As early as 1993 Mannesmann, with all its subsidiaries and participations, was able to achieve a turnover of more than DM 1bn in its leading market position. At MDKT for example, the turnover increased by almost 60% to approx. DM 420m (263m) in the previous year. This remarkable growth is the result of the purchase of the Plastics Machinery Division of Van Dorn, mentioned above. One year before the purchase, the new US subsidiary with about 600 employees achieved a turnover of $ 92m (approx. DM 142m). The East German Wiehe plant contributed almost DM 90m (previous year DM 41.5m) to the total turnover of MDKT in 1993.

At Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Munich, the turnover increased by 7% to DM 656m in the previous year. Munich GmbH was responsible for a share of DM 415m (minus 5.7% compared to 1992), Netstal for SFr 167 M (+ 6%) and Billion for FF 198m. This is a total turnover of DM 1.076bn for Mannesmann, which may increase in the current year, due to the improving economic situation and with the help of the most recent purchase of Berstorff, and thereby enhance the lead on the competitors (Cincinnati Milacron, Battenfeld, Krupp, Husky, etc.).