Thanks largely to restructuring, SMS Plastics Technology (D-58540 Meinerzhagen; www.sms-k.com) is making “significant progress towards positive results” after a recent slump in global business, Heinrich Weiss, chairman of the SMS management holding (D-40088 Düsseldorf; www.sms-group.com) said in presenting figures for 2004. Sales of the SMS plastics technology segment rose to EUR 460m in 2004 from EUR 414m in 2003 and incoming orders to EUR 446m (EUR 438m).

A closer look at the SMS group´s overall performance shows that extrusion specialist Cincinnati Extrusion (A-1230 Wien; www.cet-austria.com) lifted turnover by 20% to EUR 78m but incoming orders declined slightly. Sister company Battenfeld Extrusion (D-32547 Bad Oeynhausen; www.bex.battenfeld.com) improved sales 18% to EUR 96m, while increasing new orders to EUR 96m (EUR 84m). Blow moulding specialist Battenfeld Gloucester (Gloucester, Massachusetts / USA) saw 15% sales growth to EUR 106m.

With a 14% sales rise to EUR 170m, the group´s smallest division, Battenfeld Injection Molding, seems to be reviving. New CEO Wilhelm Schröder has implemented extensive cost-cutting measures and process improvement along with key personnel changes.

Weiss stressed that manufacturing will continue at the injection moulding sites of Meinerzhagen and Kottingbrunn / Austria. This appears to indicate that divestment was once on the agenda. For 2005, he said SMS expects “at least a stable business volume and an even better operative result.”