Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Resin pricing news
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • CEO Issue
    • Diversity
    • Best Places to Work
      • 2022 winners
    • Processor of the Year
    • Rising Stars
    • Women Breaking the Mold
      • 2022 class
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • K Show Livestream
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Resin Prices
    • All Resins
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 11, 1996 01:00 AM

BIG-PRESS PRODUCTION A BIG HIT IN U.S.

Bill Bregar
Senior Staff Reporter
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print

    When it comes to the largest injection molding machines - those with clamping forces of 1,200 tons or more - the United States market is becoming the Land of the Giants, with some significant new U.S. production: The big German injection press manufacturer Mannesmann Demag Kunststofftecknik wants to use its U.S. subsidiary, Van Dorn Demag Corp. in Strongsville, Ohio, as a base to build very large versions of its Ergotech machines, which are as large as 1,400 tons. Mannesman purchased Van Dorn in 1993.

    Kenneth Vaughan, marketing manager at Van Dorn Demag, confirmed the plan in a Nov. 4 telephone interview. He said Van Dorn Demag's Strongsville plant ``is better-suited to make the large machines'' than Mannesmann's plant in Schwaig, Germany.

    ``That's the plan, assuming that the economics work out and the exchange rates don't change dramatically,'' Vaughan said.

    The news originally was disclosed by top officials in Germany.

    The Strongsville plant has a 150-ton overhead crane. Right now, he said, Van Dorn Demag is building a 4,400-ton HP press. Mannesmann Demag has built machines that large, but because of its capacity constraints, has been forced to do subassembly in Schwaig, then do final assembly at customer plants.

    More details will be released next year.

    Japan's Ube Industries Ltd. in July broke the sake cask to dedicate its new assembly plant in Ann Arbor, Mich. Ube is a strong player in big-tonnage presses to automakers, especially Ford Motor Co.

    Saturn Corp., a unit of General Motors Corp., has a 7,000-ton Ube press in Spring Hill, Tenn. Although Ube wants to target the new market of midsized machines from Ann Arbor, plans call for the 48,000-square-foot plant to make machines as large as 1,500 tons, according to Toshiaki Kaku, president of Ube Machinery Inc., the firm's U.S. arm.

    Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. recently extended its lease to 2003 for space at GE Plastics' Polymer Processing Development Center in Pittsfield, Mass. Husky of Bolton, Ontario, also plans to increase employment in Pittsfield by 20, to 75, and is doubling the size of its engineering office space. Husky has 350-ton cranes there and about 53,000 square feet of production space.

    On Sept. 3, Husky announced it will put a major U.S. facility in Milton, Vt. - but President Robert Schad has said there are no immediate plans to move big-machine production out of Pittsfield.

    The market for machines of 1,200 tons and larger appears to be healthy, based on interviews with several press makers.

    U.S. sales in that category topped the magic number - 100 machines - in 1994 and 1995, according to the Washington-based Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.'s Machinery Division. That is more than twice the number of 1,200-plus machines sold in 1992.

    Is that 100-machine pace a permanent mark, or a temporary blip? Officials of several big-press makers think the 100-press mark can be sustained.

    ``Yes, I think so. I think the market is there,'' said Kurt Fen-ske, vice president of sales and marketing at Engel Machinery Inc. Engel makes big machines, of 500 tons and larger, in York, Pa., and smaller machines in Guelph, Ontario.

    Bill Baillie, general manager of large-tonnage machines at Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., said: ``Yes, my feeling is it's going to be a sustainable base and probably growing in the future.''

    Automotive customers are pushing much of the growth, as automakers and suppliers pump out plastic bumper components, dashboard substrates and door panels. Fenske said several automakers and first-tier molders have embarked on programs to replace machines.

    Other key big-press markets include appliances, outdoor furniture and housewares.

    Last year, HPM Corp. of Mount Gilead, Ohio, sold 18 big machines - nine 1,500-ton presses and nine 1,000-tonners - to GE Appliances Park in Louisville, Ky., where they mold tubs and baskets for the GE Profile Maxus washing machines.

    Brian Bishop, general manager for injection molding, said HPM is a major player in appliance and automotive molding. Bishop believes the 100-press level could mark a permanent change in the U.S. market.

    ``There's a lot of new programs that are going on, and there's a lot of older equipment in the industry that people are looking at replacing,'' he said. ``We're looking for continued growth in large-tonnage.''

    One trend with big-tonnage machines is to use two platens, instead of the traditional three, to save space and reduce costs. Baillie said Husky's Pittsfield operation will make a two-platen E-line machine.

    ``We'll start assembly about December of this year. We will have an E-line machine installed at a U.S customer by January.''

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    APR: US recyclers have capacity to grow, but not enough feedstock
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Industry's newest concern: Public opposition to plastics recycling
    2
    PepsiCo cuts bottle design costs, time with 3D printed mold inserts
    3
    Unsupervised worker blamed for overriding alarms in Michigan chemical spill
    4
    More volatility for North American PS, ABS resin prices
    5
    AdvanSix sees strong sales in Q2, expects healthy demand for nylon in US
    SIGN UP FOR TO RECEIVE THESE EMAILS AND ENEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Tire Business
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • CEO Issue
        • Diversity
        • Best Places to Work
          • 2022 winners
        • Processor of the Year
        • Rising Stars
        • Women Breaking the Mold
          • 2022 class
      • Newsletters
      • Resin pricing news
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • K Show Livestream
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Resin Prices
      • All Resins
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified