It looks like plastics machinery producer Netstal (Näfels / Switzerland; www.netstal.com) – part of KraussMaffei (KM, Munich / Germany; www.kraussmaffei.com) – is planning to partner with multi-cavity specialist and mould maker Electra Form Industries (Vandalia, Ohio / USA; www.electraform.com). A spokeswoman for Netstal confirmed that the two companies are in talks, but did not provide Plasteurope.com with any additional details.

The cooperation appears to centre on North American PET preform producers, and is probably aimed at countering competitor Husky Injection Molding Systems’ (Bolton, Ontario / Canada; www.husky.ca) dominance in the region.

Electra Form is represented in Europe by its Amhil Europa (Krokowa / Poland; www.amhil.com) subsidiary. The latter reportedly manufactures a lot of the group’s moulds and tools – up to 80% of the total – which are then shipped to the US for final completion.

Both Amhil and Electra Form are part of moulding group Wentworth Technologies (Stoney Creek, Ontario / Canada; www.wtbvc.com), which set up the Polish plants in Bydgoszcz and Rzeszów as cheap production sites. Wentworth also produces moulds for blow moulding applications and supplies thermoformed film for food packaging.