Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • 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
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • 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
  • 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
  • Resin Prices
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • 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
October 19, 2018 02:00 AM

KraussMaffei sees slight growth as it navigates digital direction

Audrey LaForest
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Caroline Seidel
    Crowds check out the KrauffMaffei Group GmbH booth at Fakuma 2018.

    Friedrichshafen, Germany — Munich's KraussMaffei Group GmbH expects a strong finish to 2018 despite slower growth in recent months, CEO Frank Stieler said Oct. 17 at the German machinery maker's Fakuma news conference.

    As of September, sales for 2018 are 973 million euros ($1.12 billion), marking an increase of 15 million euros ($17.3 million) or 1.6 percent over last year during the same period. Incoming orders in the first three quarters of the year are at roughly 1.05 billion euros ($1.2 billion).

    "We expect growth to continue, but to be less pronounced than previous years," Stieler said, adding that the company is still seeing steady growth in China, while other markets are "more sluggish."

    Stieler also provided an update on KraussMaffei's planned listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, which is currently under review by Chinese authorities.

    "The approval process in China is much more intense," he said, adding the group is confident it can get approval by the end of the year.

    China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina), which owns the machinery maker, announced plans to list KraussMaffei in December. ChemChina will remain a majority shareholder after the listing, Stieler said.

    ​

    Caroline Seidel

    Nadine Despineux from KraussMaffai at Fakuma 2018 in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

    Dedication to digital

    KraussMaffei is also defining its digital footprint with the launch of a two-pillar strategy it's calling "Compass," which includes the recently established digital service solutions unit.

    "We define our own path forward," Stieler said. "'Compass' means the strength we have in our company [that] we want to leverage."

    The new business unit, which will have its own digital hub for up to 50 employees in Munich's Neuaubing district in February 2019, is led by Nadine Despineux, previously vice president of sales for injection molding machines.

    Despineux, now president of digital service solutions, provided an update on the machinery leasing program, first announced at Fakuma 2017. The broad leasing plan is now available for all KraussMaffei and Netstal injection molding machines in the group, she said. The company launched the program in Germany at the beginning of 2018.

    Earlier this year, KraussMaffei announced it was investing in secondhand machinery startup Gindumac GmbH — a move Despineux called a "key to affordable leasing fees."

    Gindumac operates a global internet platform for used machinery and connects all quotations and interested parties with one another globally. This can lead to better leasing rates for customers, the company said.

    "We have gained our first customers for this [leasing] model, launched in Germany last year," she said.

    Due to high demand and positive feedback, Despineux said, as of the news conference, KraussMaffei is expanding the program to France, Italy and Austria.

    In combination with the "rent it" business model, KraussMaffei is also launching Speed-to-Market, a stock machine program starting with standard versions of its CX, GX and PX injection molding machines with clamping forces up to 650 metric tons as well as standard LRX linear robots.

    "We want to introduce machines we have in our warehouses that we can deliver quickly to our customers," said Hans Ulrich Golz, president of KraussMaffei's injection molding segment.

    With the new program, the standard machines can be delivered to customers in six to eight weeks, he said.

    "If the model the customer wants is not in stock, our production is designed to build on in a short period of time," Golz explained.

    In addition, the machinery maker is expanding its e-service platform — a service for customers that offers them 24/7 access to detailed information and documentation of machines, including a ticketing system and 3D spare parts finder — to all products in the KraussMaffei Group.

    The platform debuted as a test version at K 2016 and was rolled out on KraussMaffei's Netstal products first.

    "We believe we have the potential of combining our mechanical competence with our digital competence," Stieler said. "We are realizing that the development of the digital world is moving much faster than the mechanical world."

    Smaller, smarter, easier

    In product news, KraussMaffei also unveiled new LRX EasyControl linear robots, which feature simple, intuitive operation and fast programming. This shortens setup times — even for beginners, the company said.

    Two new models of its all-electric presses were also introduced: a 25-metric-ton PX SilcoSet used for micromolding liquid silicone rubber and the "big one," a 320-tonne PX for in-mold decoration and in-mold labeling. Both are running live applications at Fakuma.

    With the Netstal brand, KraussMaffei is showing the Elios 4500 at the trade fair. It's the smallest clamping force in the press series at 450 tonnes.

    The machine is molding thin-wall polypropylene flower pots in a six-cavity Glaroform mold in various colors. The cycle time is 3 seconds.

    The Netstal brand is also rolling out the Smart Operation control option for its aXos injection molding press controller, also on the Elios 4500 press.

    Smart Operation has four buttons and a preconfigurable dashboard to illustrate relevant process information, interaction notifications and application-specific instructions. The so-called Smart Buttons trigger transitions in status during production.

    With the push of just three buttons, the press can be turned on, prepared for molding and begin production. The press can be turned off just as quickly.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Obituary: Inventor, Neutrex founder Arthur Haag
    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
    Tornadoes, severe weather impact Texas resin plants
    2
    Eastman posts lower profit, plans job cuts
    3
    Plastics firms work to eliminate PFAS use as pressure mounts
    4
    OSHA: Worker died at plastics firm after duct tape covered safety guards
    5
    Georgia home to new PET chemical recycling plant
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    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
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. 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
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • 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
    • 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
    • Resin Prices
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • 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