The Chinese subsidiary of injection moulding machine manufacturer Milacron (Cincinnati, Ohio / USA; www.milacron.com) received an order for 85 “Elektron” machines, ranging from 500 kN to 1,550 kN, in the first quarter of 2012. Following the company’s successful participation at “Chinaplas” in April 2012 – see Plasteurope.com of 27.04.2012 – the order has been expanded with 28 additional 2,600 kN machines, boosting the total purchase to 113 all-electric injection moulding machines.

The first 85 “Elektrons” will be delivered to two locations of an unidentified Chinese customer in the second quarter of 2012, with 30 of those machines already delivered. The second set of 28 machines will be shipped in the third quarter of 2012. The smaller machines will be used to produce electronics components for an American computer and entertainment device manufacturer. The larger models will be used in the manufacture of household items. The customer already has around 40 "K-TEC" multi-component machines from Ferromatik Milacron (Malterdingen / Germany; www.ferromatik.com) in service. These machines have a clamping force of between 1,100 and 2,000 kN. A new order for an additional 10 multi-component machines from the German affiliate is currently under discussion, Milacron said.

As a result of the order, Milacron China has hired additional personnel, increasing its total workforce at the facility to 120. This order has led to the company’s best quarter since it was established in 2004. Around 90% of the “Elektron” machines produced in China are earmarked for the local market. A new addition to the range was introduced at Chinaplas, extending the series into larger sizes with the introduction of the “Elektron” 450. Along with the new machine, two new international size 2,290 and 3,470 injection units have also been developed. The series is now available in nine clamping force sizes ranging from 500 kN to 4,500 kN which can be combined with nine injection unit sizes from 55 to 3,470.