Research by AMI shows an increase in moulding companies in Germany

Injection moulding companies in Germany have generally been resistant to the European trend of opening overseas plants and closing domestic factories, according to AMI. It said: “Despite the difficulties facing the injection moulding industry in Western Europe, the market in Germany appears to be holding up well.” The UK research group has updated its database on more than 2,400 German injection moulding companies. It has recorded 6% more companies than three years ago. AMI said similar research it has done in the UK and Benelux recorded a decline in the number of injection moulders. Production has often been closed and moved to locations in Central Europe and South East Asia because of lower property and labour costs. AMI said: “This trend has been less evident in Germany. Although German companies have established operations in Central Europe, this has not always been at the expense of their home plants.” It estimates German moulders consumed nearly 2m tonnes of polymer in 2004. The automotive sector used 21% of moulders’ output while packaging accounted for 20% in 2004.