Wittmann Battenfeld UK Sees Automation Growth for Plastics Manufacturing

Leading plastics manufacturing equipment supplier Wittmann Battenfeld UK (WIBA UK) reports that automation and robotics is set to play a key part in the forecasted growth for the company this year.

WIBA UK Managing Director, Barry Hill anticipates a 50% year on year growth in sales for the Wellingborough-based company through 2010. “There are a number of factors involved – not least belonging to a global

group that continues to develop and produce competition-beating equipment at very attractive prices. To be honest, however, most of us in the UK plastics industry agree that market volumes cannot now get much lower.

Investment simply has to happen in order for the sector to stay alive. It doesn’t surprise me that the Dec 09 purchasers index for UK manufacturing has risen sharply. Perhaps the currency factor is playing a small part but the reinvestment simply has to happen in order for companies to keep moving and stay in business. Automation spend will always be attractive.” Wittmann in the UK will continue to service and develop business in packaging,

healthcare and other parts of plastics manufacturing that have weathered the credit crunch, “a focus that will continue,” said Hill.