CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Berstorff Corp., the Charlotte-based subsidiary of German compounding extruder maker Hermann Berstorff Maschinenbau GmbH, hopes to increase its visibility. Nelson Hopcus, Bers-torff's U.S. president, said in an interview Nov. 12 at Plastics Fair Charlotte that the company is developing an international communications campaign with its Hanover-based parent for next year. The campaign will coincide with additional technical support offices in Asia and India. Within the past year, Bers-torff has opened sales offices in New Jersey and Houston.
Hopcus said the company ex-pects, as previously reported, to establish a sales office in the Ohio Valley region during 1997. He also said a Chicago office could follow.
Hopcus declined to provide numbers, but said he expects Berstorff to double its size during the next three to four years. He said the company anticipates rising from its present position of No. 3 or No. 4 in the compounding twin-screw area to No. 2 by 2000. To achieve that, Hopcus said the company will introduce more-efficient equipment, such as sophisticated electronic control systems and redesigned extruders. Berstorff also has worked on integrating its marketing, re-search and communications activities to support Hopcus' business plan.
The company, which marks its 100th anniversary in 1997, was the primary corporate sponsor for Plastics Fair Charlotte, held Nov. 12-14.
According to Hopcus, Berstorff is looking to increase its Latin American business during the next several years and is expanding agent capabilities in Mexico. He said the company's order intake is ``looking very positive'' and, based on the Nov. 5 U.S. election, he sees ``four more years of basically no major issues.''
Berstorff does about $20 million in annual sales, Hopcus said.