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Aug 27th, 2008                                Print this article

Injection Molding: Husky, Toshiba expand overseas presence

By Tony Deligio

Fueled by double-digit growth in sales over the last year, including strength in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) preform molds and integrated injection systems for closures and packaging, Husky Injection Molding Systems (Bolton, ON; www.husky.ca) has expanded services at its Mexico Technical Center. The company specifically increased mold refurbishing and preform prototyping capabilities, as well as machine training for customers in Spanish at the center, which opened in Mexico City in March 2002. In Brazil, Husky will raise capacity at its Technical Center for PET mold refurbishing and hot runner manufacturing, adding a machining center as well as hot runner temperature controller assembly. That site opened in Sao Paulo in April 1999.

The company says it is also hiring additional service technicians in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina. Husky plans on further emphasizing these plans with a series of customer events in Mexico and Brazil, including the fourth annual PET conference in Brazil, which is scheduled to take place in November, and Husky Mexico’s PET and Closures conference to be held in March 2009.

Toshiba Machine Co. (Tokyo; www.toshiba-machine.co.jp) is increasing its injection molding machines sale and service network, with a focus on China and India. The company reports that injection business accounts for 60% of its group sales, and to enjoy continued growth, it will have to shift its focus beyond Japan, where it feels the domestic market will plateau. In a release to Japanese press, the company said by the year ending March 2011 it will increase the number of overseas offices by 40% to 39 sites, and raise the percentage of total sales occupied by overseas business by 10 points to 55%.

The network expansion will include sales and service bases for both the injection molding segment and die cast machines. In China, Toshiba Machine already has 10 locations, which are concentrated along the coast. By the March 2011 deadline, it plans to add four more, with possible locations focused inland in cities like Dongguan and Chongqing.

In India, Toshiba Machine only has one office in New Delhi, but it will open another in Chennai by March 2009, and is also considering setting up sites in Mumbai and Pune by the March 2011 target date. In addition, the company is also planning expansions in Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines, with the ultimate goal being to expand overseas sales and service staff by 30% to 430 workers.—tdeligio@modplas.com

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