PETpla.net Insider 05 / 2011

PET TOP TALK 10 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 05/11 www.petpla.net Otto Hofstetter: “We are looking at making an acquisition“ In Uznach in Switzerland the economic boom is in full swing – and has been since last year – with every prospect of this continuing in 2011. It is in Uznach that Otto Hofstet- ter AG manufactures injection moulding tools, including the hot runners for high quality plastic packaging. Application areas include PET preforms (approx. 75% of total turnover) as well as thin wall packaging, cartridges and products for the agricultural sector. We travelled to Uznach, Switzerland for a PET Top Talk with Otto Hofstetter. One major factor which has con- tributed to the solid progress of the mould business is PET bottles for the beverages industry. This is a result firstly of the trend towards lightweight, materials-saving bottles and sec- ondly of the increasing tendency of frequently switching to new bottle for- mats. Otto Hofstetter is participating in both trends. The numerous orders are doubtless the result of the current economic boom as far as moulds are concerned, but are also an indicator of the long-term, on-going work in the PET market carried out by Otto Hof- stetter as a company. PETplanet Insider is continuing its series of Top Talks with Otto Hofstet- ter, focusing both on the company’s current success and on their long PET history. Otto Hofstetter goes back a long way, to the beginnings of PET and its introduction into the beverages market. We will also be taking the opportunity of speaking with the person who personifies Otto Hofstetter AG, namely, Otto Hof- stetter himself, whose background and experience typifies a small- to medium-sized company. His story is both exemplary and interesting. This is what we were expecting when we travelled to Uznach on March 28, 2011 to interview Otto Hofstetter. And because, at Hofstetter, they attach great importance to teamwork, Stefan Zatti, Divisional Manager PET and Member of the Board, also took part in the discussions. PET TopTalk