But the German machinery maker is expecting demand to fall next year

But the German machinery maker is expecting demand to fall next year

Big orders from automotive and profile customers have helped Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik boost sales in its 2003 financial year.

Joseph Mдrtl, chairman of Krauss-Maffei, told the Fakuma fair that sales grew by 11.5% from last year to E470m in 2003. Injection moulding accounted for E340m, extrusion for E69m and reaction (PUR) machinery E62m.

Large orders from the automotive industry for injection moulding machines particularly helped the positive growth in 2003. Mдrtl advised, however, that both incoming orders and sales for large machines for the automotive industry will be lower in 2004.

KM’s extrusion machinery business has benefited in 2003 from the company’s Quickswitch product for easy changover in pipe diameters, and also from business in Russia. Large orders received in China, principally from Dalian Shide, will mean the company’s extrusion machinery capacity will be highly utilised in 2004.

Mдrtl sees worldwide plastics machinery demand being restrained in 2004 but forecasted that KM will increase its sales by around 3.5% next year.