Following a year of declining sales in the aftermath of the Austrian flood disaster, Engel Holding GmbH (A-4311 Schwertberg; www.engel.at), global market leader in injection moulding machinery, increased sales 13% to EUR 538m in fiscal year 2003/2004 (31 March). While 63% of turnover was generated in Europe, the US share sank to 23%. Sales in Asia were doubled to 10%.

Like many other global players, Engel is placing its focus increasingly on Asia, in particular China. Its Korean production facility for small and medium-sized machinery, started up in 2001, produced 346 machines in 2003/2004 and lifted sales by 33% to EUR 20m. At a recent press conference, Engel´s managing director, Dr. Peter Neumann, said the Korean plant is being run flat out and is fast approaching its capacity limit. He announced plans for a new plant to produce large machinery in China, but declined to disclose the location or projected start-up date.

According to Neumann, the North American machinery market is not showing any signs of recovery. The latest figures show a year-on-year decline in market volume from 3,536 units in 2001 to 3,290 in 2002. In 2000, it was 6,420 units. Although Engel sold 359 machines in North America in 2003/2004, compared with 312 in 2002/2003, its revenues shrank by 8% to USD 110m. Despite the subdued outlook for the North American market, Neumann nevertheless confirmed the group´s commitment to a continued presence there.

Group parent Engel Austria GmbH reported a sales increase of 16% to EUR 454m in 2003/2004. Investing more than EUR 80m to repair flood damage, the company gutted and revamped its main plant in Schwertberg. In the process it completely modularised all production processes and implemented state-of-the-art technology. Engel´s production plant for large machinery at St. Valentin/Austria is being expanded. Since 2002, the family-run company has invested EUR 54m at this site.