ENGEL
Injection machine maker to expand production of robots / “Pay-per-use” sales model available
The factory in Dietach, Austria (Photo: Engel) |
Austrian machine maker Engel (Schwertberg; www.engelglobal.com) said it will spend around EUR 11 mn to expand its domestic facility for manufacturing of robots in Dietach.
With the first of two construction phases set to begin in May of next year, operations for production, logistics, training, and the office building will be modernised and increased by a total of more than 3,000 m²; the company said.
With this investment, the injection machine maker wants to meet the increasing global demand for robots. “We are delivering well over half of all injection moulding machines with integrated automation technology, CEO Stefan Engleder said, noting that the trend is on the rise.
Founded in 1980, the Dietach plant develops and produces three robot lines: viper brand linear robots, the e-pic pick-and-place robots, and pic A sprue pickers.
With the expansion, Engel, which employs more than 6,500 people at nine production sites worldwide, also plans to add personnel. The company is thus looking to fill a range of positions at the plant and is looking for engineers for mechatronics, commissioning, software, and development.
With the first of two construction phases set to begin in May of next year, operations for production, logistics, training, and the office building will be modernised and increased by a total of more than 3,000 m²; the company said.
With this investment, the injection machine maker wants to meet the increasing global demand for robots. “We are delivering well over half of all injection moulding machines with integrated automation technology, CEO Stefan Engleder said, noting that the trend is on the rise.
Founded in 1980, the Dietach plant develops and produces three robot lines: viper brand linear robots, the e-pic pick-and-place robots, and pic A sprue pickers.
With the expansion, Engel, which employs more than 6,500 people at nine production sites worldwide, also plans to add personnel. The company is thus looking to fill a range of positions at the plant and is looking for engineers for mechatronics, commissioning, software, and development.
Leadership change
The company announced that Jörg Fuhrmann became vice-president of the automation division on 1 November 2022. He returned to Engel this year, having worked for the group from 2007 to 2016 as division manager for automation technology at Engel Austria, and MD at Engel’s automation unit in Germany.
In addition to the classic purchasing of machines, the manufacturer now also offers its customers a “pay-per-use” model, with costs based on machine utilisation. This can mean a fixed price either per unit or per machine running time. The financing partner is linx4 (Vienna; https://www.linx4.io).
For the current 2022/23 business year to 31 March, the company said it expects sales to increase 7% to EUR 1.6 bn. Engel first announced this forecast at this year’s K Show plastics fair in Düsseldorf, Germany (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2022). However, at the time the outlook for the remainder of the current fiscal year was cautious due to concerns about an economic slowdown.
In addition to the classic purchasing of machines, the manufacturer now also offers its customers a “pay-per-use” model, with costs based on machine utilisation. This can mean a fixed price either per unit or per machine running time. The financing partner is linx4 (Vienna; https://www.linx4.io).
For the current 2022/23 business year to 31 March, the company said it expects sales to increase 7% to EUR 1.6 bn. Engel first announced this forecast at this year’s K Show plastics fair in Düsseldorf, Germany (see Plasteurope.com of 20.10.2022). However, at the time the outlook for the remainder of the current fiscal year was cautious due to concerns about an economic slowdown.
22.12.2022 Plasteurope.com [251753-0]
Published on 22.12.2022