Japan’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI, Tokyo; www.shi.co.jp) has completed its EUR 77.5m takeover of Demag Plastics Group (DPG, Schwaig; www.dpg.com) following approval by all relevant authorities – see Plasteurope.com of 15.02.2008. The deal creates what Sumitomo calls “the first really globally operating company in the injection moulding industry,” with a market share of some 12%.

The merged company will sell electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection moulding machines on a common platform as well as “total solutions with integrated automation centred on these machines.” Sumitomo CEO Katsuhiko Taniguichi said Demag’s operations will be integrated with those of the Japanese group “wherever this makes sense.”