Expanding its position in what it called “the promising” Iranian market, injection moulding machinery manufacturer Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery (Schwaig / Germany; www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu) has set up a partnership with Kara Sanaat Rasha (Tehran / Iran; www.kara-sanaat.com), covering sales and services for its portfolio in the country. In future, the latter’s managing director, Alireza Nassiri, will handle all customer care matters in Iran, including consultancy, sales and service offers.

Sumitomo Demag expects Iranian customers to show particularly strong interest for automated high-performance injection moulding machines with medium to high clamping forces. The group has identified two target client groups – manufacturers of plastic packaging as well as suppliers to the automotive industry. The machinery maker is able to offer the former high-speed machines, such as its “El-Exis SP”, while the latter’s needs will be met by large machines with special processing methods, such as integrated automated handling equipment or downstream joining and assembly processes.

There is much speculation about an impending boom in Iran, following the lifting of the sanctions imposed against the country. What is clear is that a lot of the plants and equipment used in the country will need to be modernised – a trend from which foreign players could stand to benefit (for a detailed overview on Iran, see Plasteurope.com of 29.04.2016).