Austrian injection moulding machinery supplier Engel Group is establishing a “decentralised” network of mould experts in its sales regions, in order to increase its local presence in various markets.

The Schwertberg-based company, which has had an entire department dedicated to injection mould technology for more than a decade, said 5 July that the move was prompted by increasing demand from customers who refer to the company for advice on mould design.

The process will start with China, where the company has now set up a mould technology department at its Shanghai office, an Engel spokeswoman told PNE.

The department, she explained, will be expanded in the future, but currently has two members: Davy Kong who will head the department and Ian Wang, a mould manager.

Udo Stahlschmidt, head of mould technology at Engel, (centre) with Davy Kong (left) and Ian Wang

The team will be developing mould solutions tailored to products and manufacturing processes in partnership with a mould producing partner.

Engel also expects to extend the project to its production plant in York, Pennsylvania, next year to accommodate for the market in North America.

According to the Engel spokeswoman, the aim is to employ local expertise for local demand.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Engel said developing customised injection moulding solutions needs a thorough understanding of the available technologies, product specifications and regional characteristics.

And, as production solutions become more complex, such aspects become more important.

With the more localised approach, Engel aims to develop its capability to propose “the most suitable mould manufacturer for a specific project and advises customers on their choice of partner”.

“Injection mould technology calls for a great deal of coordination and close cooperation between ourselves, as the system solutions provider, and the plastics processors. That’s why it is so important to establish mould technology expertise close to our clients and have contact persons who speak their language,” explained Christoph Steger, CSO of the Engel Group.