As demand for plastic parts continues to grow in Asia, injection moulding machine producer Engel Austria (Schwertberg; www.engelglobal.com) has completed an expansion of its large-scale machine works in Shanghai / China. The company said it invested EUR 12m in the expansion, which will enable the production of more than 200 duo series machines per year at the site in future.

Engel is investing a further EUR 8m at its site in Pyungtaek / South Korea, where annual production of small- and medium-sized injection moulding machines will increase from 650 units to about 1100 units in spring 2013. The company said it doubled its Asia sales to EUR 124.6m for the year to 31 March 2012, from EUR 63.3m a year earlier, and raised its market share in the region to almost 10%. Global sales rose 33% to reach record levels of EUR 834m. Engel attributed the growth to its success in Asia and the launch of an energy-saving ecodrive option.

The China and South Korea expansions will help meet the expected growth in order volumes in Asia. "Over the past few years, we have seen significantly higher demands placed on plastic parts made in China," said Gero Willmeroth, sales and service manager at Engel Machinery (Shanghai) Co. There is a call for even more sophisticated solutions, and turnkey systems are gaining importance, he added.

Demand is also increasing in South-East Asia and India. The company is expanding its sales office in Bangkok / Thailand and intensifying its market activities in the region, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand.