Sales at the injection moulding machinery declined over 3% last year

Arburg’s western European sales of injection moulding machines have suffered “significant consolidation”, according to Helmut Heinson, managing director for sales at the German machinery manufacturer. Despite growing sales in eastern Europe and a 12% increase in the number of new customers worldwide, the company yesterday revealed that turnover had fallen by over 3% in 2005 to E267.2m.

Larger machines ranging between 250 and 400 tonnes clamping force accounted for 13% of incoming orders and did best with 3% growth. However, technical managing director Herbert Kraibьhler pointed out that Arburg “does not want to participate in the 500-1,000 tonne range, as not many machines are sold in the range”.

Growth in incoming orders for multi-component machines, representing a 11% share, grew by 1% and the incoming orders for “project” business with complete solutions, representing a 10% share, also grew by 1%. Chairman Michael Hehl was not prepared “in these politically and economically rather uncertain times” to risk a forecast of 2006 results.

Hehl revealed that not only had the company made investments totalling E14m in 2005, but that the number of employees worldwide had grown 1% to 1,985. He said: “We do not dismiss, do not restructure, but expand sensibly, strategically and successively.”