Injection moulding machinery manufacturer Ningbo Haitian Group (Beilun, Ningbo / China; www.haitian.com) is establishing a joint venture with Plastic-Centre (Moscow / Russia) with a view to becoming market leader in Russia and the former countries of the CIS by 2010. In addition to having its HQ in Moscow, the jv will have agencies in St. Petersburg and Samara, with additional offices in the Ukraine and other regions in Russia and the former CIS. Plastic-Centre has been providing sales and back-up for Haitian injection moulding machines and ancillary equipment for several years, but the jv will offer additional services such as application support and training.

Ningbo Haitian is the largest injection moulding machinery producer in the world in terms of units sold. It sees Russia and the former CIS countries as of high strategic importance. It sold 140 machines last year and is ranked as third largest supplier behind Demag Plastics Group (www.dpg.com) and Korean specialist LG. The group also manufactures CNC tooling machines, small compressors and electric motors, but injection moulding accounts for 85% of its business by volume. It posted international sales of USD 490m in 2005 and is targeting USD 625m within the next five years.