CHICAGO (Aug. 1, 3 p.m. EDT) — Shantou, China-based Jinming Plastics Equipment Co. Ltd. sold a monolayer film extruder and a cast film extruder on the first day of NPE and one three-layer extruder on the second day.
Jinming, the first firm to make coextrusion machines for seven- and nine-layer film in China, licenses winding technology from German firm Plamex Maschinenbau GmbH of Kelberg and buys components from Sysmetric Ltd. of Afula, Israel. Sysmetric makes feeding and conveying systems, gravimetric dosing units, extruder controls and software. In return, Jinming provides sales and cost-control support to its partners.
Jinming has sold seven lines in North America since it began conducting business there in 2005. One line has been running for almost a year, two were delivered to Toronto customers and four are set for delivery in a few months. Its sales agent is Plastic Equipment Co. Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia.
PEC sales Vice President Dennis Wong said: ``Compared to Taiwan machinery makers, Chinese companies are latecomers to North America. The first and foremost task is to make the brand and products known to people.´´
Plus there is the price advantage, Wong said at the Chicago show. ``The same-type German machines are eight times as expensive as ours,´´ he said, noting many buyers remain skeptical. ``First, they think the price is too good to be true. Second, they worry about after-sales service.´´
During NPE, potential customers got comfortable with Jinming´s machines, Wong said. Top U.S. film makers visited the booth, including Alcan Packaging, he said.
``We´ve gained full confidence to explore the North American market at this NPE, our very first one,´´ President Ma Zhenxin said.
Jinming positions itself as a mid- to high-level company, according to spokeswoman Wendy Ma. The firm´s machine on display was sold to a South Carolina packaging maker, she said.
Jinming recently bought land and plans to double manufacturing space to 323,000 square feet. It employs about 300.
In 2005, exports represented 40 percent of sales, up from 30 percent in 2004. The firm projects that figure will grow to 50 percent this year.
``Our global sales have been growing at 20-25 percent every year,´´ Wendy Ma said. Jinming sold more than 120 lines worldwide and will install a seven-layer line in North America this year.
In April, the firm presented China´s first five- to seven-layer downward-blowing water-cool film production line for medical uses. It also made three of Asia´s largest blown film lines for agricultural film of widths up to 65½ feet.
End markets also include monolayer converting film, flexible packaging, multilayer food pouches and heavy-duty shipping sacks.