UK sees highest number of injection moulding machine imports since 2004

15-Apr-16

The Polymer Machinery Manufacturers & Distributors Association (PMMDA) has revealed that 643 injection moulding machines were imported into the UK in 2015, the strongest numbers since 2004. Since 2010, the UK market has grown in unit numbers by 36%. PMMDA’s findings revealed significant investment across all sectors, including traditional trade moulding. The PMMDA has carried out its imports study for the last 13 years. Member companies are invited to share their annual sales figures confidentially, and those members participating in the survey receive an analysis of the figures, together with a year-on-year comparison. PMMDA chairman Nigel Flowers, said there was a similar story on the automation side, with 41% of machines supplied with automation last year, compared with just 32% 10 years ago. "The UK compares very well with the rest of Europe as the Euromap production data shows automation over-stagnating as 20% of machines produced are equipped with automation. “There is an argument that automotive has driven this increase, but I think that we are seeing investment across the board to leverage the cost reductions and increase in productivity that automation brings,” he added. UK sales figures for ancillary equipment and robots were also included in the survey, and showed a significant rise in trade during 2015.