Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH has sold its first six-layer coextrusion machine in India to a firm that will make automobile fuel tanks there next year.
Managing Director Andreas Lichtenauer called the sale a breakthrough in the Indian market for the Bonn, Germany-based company, which has been in China for nearly a decade with a plant in Shunde. He noted significant demand for the firm's machines in Asia, especially India and China.
While India is the next market for Kautex Maschinenbau's blow molding machines, the Chinese packaging industry also has started upgrading its systems with the German company's high-end, technology-based machines, he said.
Last year, Shunde Kautex Plastics Technology Co. Ltd. exported 90 percent of its 40 machines. This year the firm expects to send about 75-80 percent abroad, while boosting output to about 60 machines.
``Orders from the Chinese markets have increased this year,'' he said at ASEANPlas, held May 26-29 in Singapore.
Shunde Kautex now is focusing on blow molding machines for packaging, while long term it plans to make some parts for machines made in Germany.
Lichtenauer said Thailand's fast-growing auto market is promising, as are Singapore and Indonesia.