S. China plastics firms struggling, but eye modernization
 Au
Re-evaluating China, from across the Taiwan strait
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (September 30, 2008) -- With costs quickly climbing across the Taiwan strait, many of the island’s companies are reassessing their relationship with mainland China, a region that is
both its biggest market and its fiercest competitor. Plastics News spoke with several Taiwanese firms on the subject at the Taipei Plas show, which was held earlier this month.
Taiwan press makers unveil all-electrics at Taipei Plas
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (September 30, 2008) -- With much fanfare, several of Taiwan’s largest machinery firms unveiled new all-electrics at the recent Taipei Plas trade show. The presses use servomotors
developed by a joint Taiwanese industry and government funded research project. As previously reported by Plastics News, industry officials said the technology will aid local press makers in
becoming more competitive against high-end Japanese and European all-electrics.
Helix invests in medical molding in U.S., China
SHANGHAI (September 23, 2008) -- Helix Medical LLC is expanding its clean rooms at its three U.S. plants and has received new ISO certifications for its Carpinteria, Calif., plant and APEC Asia Ltd.,
its manufacturing operation in the Guangdong province of Shenzhen, China.
Mazda process makes plastics parts lighter
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN (September 16, 2008) -- As part of a drive to reduce weight and lessen the environmental impact from cars, Japanese auto maker Mazda Motor Corp. has developed an injection molding
technology that it says mixes supercritical fluids with plastic to reduce resin consumption and lightweight car parts by as much as 30 percent.
Mann+Hummel building fourth facility in China
SHANGHAI (September 16, 2008) — German automotive molder Mann+Hummel GmbH is building a new plant in Shanghai to manufacture filters and filter systems, and plans to make the new plant its
research and development center in Asia.
U.S. molder Fawn Industries closing plant
TIMONIUM, MARYLAND (September 9, 2008) -- Fawn Industries Inc. has closed its Middlesex, North Carolina, plastics molding plant, reflecting a global change that has forced it to move work to
lower-cost regions. Fawn’s end markets include automotive, telecommunications and consumer products.
Press maker Haitian’s profits dip
NINGBO, ZHEJIANG (September 2, 2008) -- Haitian International Holdings Ltd., China’s largest maker of injection molding machines, saw its profit fall more than 8 percent in the first half of 2008, as
demand plummeted from economic woes in the United States, rising oil prices and higher costs in China. The tougher business environment led to a “rapid and steep decline” in demand for
molding machines, particularly for smaller machines of less than 500 metric tons of clamping force, the company told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange late last month. Profit for the first six months of
2008 fell even as sales rose about 9 percent.
Mann + Hummel bolsters its global automotive reach
 Seipler
Toshiba expanding all-electric press output in Shanghai
SHANGHAI (August 26, 2008) -- With mainland China’s demand for all-electric injection presses on the rise, Japanese press maker Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd. is doubling the capacity of its Shanghai
factory. The company is also seeing increased exports from Shanghai to other Asian markets. Toshiba makes all-electrics from 40 to 350 metric tons of clamping force in Shanghai, along with
die-casting machines.
Taiwanese alliance develops all-electric press tech
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (August 19, 2008) -- A Taiwanese research alliance has developed technology that it claims puts it on par with high-end all-electric presses at a 30 percent cost savings, compared to
similar Japanese machines. Now the Taiwan Association of the Machinery Industry says it just needs time for its image to grow to become competitive in the Taiwanese and mainland Chinese market, and
then it will expand to Southeast Asia and South America. The technology will debut next month at Taipei Plas. Members of the partnership are press makers Fu Chun Shin Machinery Co. Ltd., Multiplas
Enginery Co. Ltd. and Victor Taichung Machinery Co. Works Ltd.; servomotor supplier Teco Electro Devices Co. Ltd.; and stretch blow molding machine maker Chum Power Machinery Corp.
Husky to emphasize packaging over automotive
BOLTON, ONTARIO (August 12, 2008) -- Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. will reduce its presence in the large-molding-machine market for the automotive sector in favor of building up its core
business of presses for PET preforms and the packaging sector. The decision to de-emphasize large-machine manufacturing reflects differing growth rates in the respective markets.
DC-Mould makes thrifty move from city center
 Zhang
Hard times force U.S. molder Modern to shut doors
BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN (July 29, 2008) -- Modern Plastics Corp., founded in 1937, is closing down -- a victim, company officials said, of the many hardships facing the U.S. plastics industry.
Executives said Modern Plastics got walloped by high costs for resin, utilities, transportation and health care, the inability to pass along price increases, financial turmoil at customers and loss
of work to China and Mexico.
Design Guide: Lord of the Rings and plastics innovation
 Lefteri
Sipa aims for flexibility in the China market
HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG (July 22, 2008) -- After a whirlwind debut on the Chinese market more than a decade ago, Italian bottle machinery company Sipa SpA has gained a reputation in the region. And with
the help of a new China-made injection press and increasing marketing efforts, it’s a reputation the company is looking to expand.
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