Husky Injection Molding Systems is to reduce its presence in the large automotive moulding machine market in favour of PET and packaging.

The decision to “de-emphasise” large machines at its Luxembourg plant reflects the very different growth rates in the respective markets, according to sales and service vice president for EMEA Volker Neuber.

“Over the past ten years, we have built a good share in North America and made some inroads in Europe [in large automotive machines] but recently the growth trend has been in the packaging market,” he said.

Neuber said the company will continue to support existing customers – particularly for Quadloc machines - but will not invest in new developments for automotive production.

He said the Luxembourg factory has been increasingly gearing up for manufacture of packaging and PET preform machines over recent months, which has strengthened its local supply capability for growth markets such as eastern Europe.

No job losses are expected at the Luxembourg plant as a result of the strategy, said Neuber.