Extrusion International 6-2018

16 Extrusion International 6/2018 INDUSTRY NEWS New Strategy TheKraussMaffeiGroupisrepositioningitself.Underthename “Compass”, the company has developed a two-pillar strategy. In addition to classic plastics machinery construction this new strategy aims at intensifying and accelerating the development of digital services and products, as well as new business models. To this end, the new Digital Service Solutions business unit was established in July, and is expected to make a substantial con- tribution to the Group’s sales in the future. The new strategy is initially designed for a period of five years until 2023. The KraussMaffei Group is thus continuing its growth course. The share of digital services andproducts, aswell as newservices such as the “Rent It” machine rental model, will be steadily in- creased in the coming years. “We are positioning KraussMaffei as a company that is consistently focusing on customer needs in the age of digitization. In the coming years, we will significantly expand our business model and add digital excellence to our high level of mechanical expertise. This means that in future we will not only sell our customers high-quality machines as usual, but also create added value around the machine. We want to provide our customers with excellent service around the globe and around the clock – and make them attractive offers,” ex- plains Dr. Frank Stieler, CEO of the KraussMaffei Group. A positive development is anticipated for the current financial year. The number of employees has also increased significantly. Today, the Group employs almost 5,500 people (including ap- prentices) – a record number. “I am particularly pleased that we are currently qualifying 310 apprentices for their future profes- sional careers - more than ever before,” says Dr. Stieler. The planned listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange is due to be approved this year. TheChinese authorities are currently review- ing the application from KraussMaffei’s parent company China National Chemical Corporation. KraussMaffei Group GmbH www.kraussmaffeigroup.com Dr. Frank Stieler, CEO of the KraussMaffei Group PLASTIMAGEN ® MÉXICO 2019. Themost important event of the plastic industry in Latin America The new edition of PLASTIMAGEN ® MÉXICO, organized by Tarsus México, will present all the trends and new technolo- gies to the industry worldwide. PLASTIMAGEN ® MÉXICO 2019 presents over 870 compa- nies representing in excess of 1,600 brands from more than 27 countries, 14 International Pavilions, and the ANIPAC Pa- vilion (the National Association of Plastic Industries in Mexi- co). With more than 45,000 m 2 of exhibition space, PLASTIMA- GEN ® MÉXICO is the most complete and foremost plastics expo in Latin America, an event designed to meet the needs of more than 30,000 visitors who are seeking innovative so- lutions for their companies. An extraordinary program of presentations: In its 22nd edi- tion, PLASTIMAGEN ® MÉXICO represents Latin America’s plastics sector’s most important forum for the exchange of ideas, networking, displaying the latest in technology/ma- chinery, and exhibiting products and services that are aimed at ever more industries. This event will also feature an excellent International Confer- ence Program organized jointly by the National Association of Plastic Industries (ANIPAC, for its acronym in Spanish) and Tarsus México, which will offer visitors an excellent option to Tarsus Group Plc, www.tarsus.com www.plastimagen.com.mx/2019/en train and find solutions to problems that arise in any link in the chain of the plastic industry. Plastic in numbers: Across the globe, plastic industry gener- ates sales for more than $ 22 billion a year and its market value is $ 33 billion. If we talk about Mexico, the plastics in- dustry is booming. In 2017, production increased by 7.7% and an annual growth of more than 6% is expected by the end of this year. Mexico imports 20 billion dollars of resins and plastics a year and is among the main countries of export of products along with the United States and Canada. And this is due to the increase use of plastic as a raw mate- rial, that has been achieved to improve the competitiveness of many companies by evaluating the option of replacing parts of traditional manufacture by plastic elements in in- dustries such as: automotive, medical devices, construction, packaging, agricultural and household appliances, among many others.