West European machinery suppliers are gearing up to attack the growing Russian plastics processing market

West European machinery suppliers are gearing up to attack the growing Russian plastics processing market

All the major suppliers exhibited at last week’s Interplastica event in Moscow, and were positive about future prospects. “In the past we have sold a lot of PET machines to Russia,” said Nijaz Husidic, who handles sales of Netstal general-purpose machines to Russia. “This is the first time we have shown our standard machines.”

The company sells its PET machines to Russia through sister company Demag Plastics Machinery, which last month began assembling machines in Russia for domestic sale. The 150-tonne Bars machine will compete with Asian machines, according to Olaf Kassek, managing director of Demag’s Russian operation.

Two other suppliers – Krauss Maffei and Battenfeld – believe they will only develop a market in Russia once the large automotive suppliers have moved in. “When Faurecia and Johnson Controls set up in Russia, we will have a market,” said Krauss-Maffei’s Guido Radig.