PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2011

BOTTLE MAKING 34 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 09/11 www.petpla.net studied Japanology, which centres on Japanese language, culture, all aspects of the Japanese society, but not engineering. Then he took a mas- ters degree in export management at the EHSAL ) University in Brussels. He worked briefly for a Belgian com- pany exporting textiles to Japan. “In 1994 I got in contact with ASB. In 1995 I joined and was stationed in Japan for four years, working one and a half years in the factory, learning the technology, assembling the machine, processing the machines. For the remainder of the time I was working in the international sales and market- ing department. In 1999 I came to Germany, first active as an area sales manager. In 2002 I became Director of the company and in 2008 I became the MD of the company”. Clearly Keersmaeker’s deep knowledge of product and his Euro- pean approach to the business gives his Japanese Nissei ASB a competi- tive advantage. Product range Nissei ASB supplies single stage machinery (ASB and PF series) as well as – in much smaller numbers – two stage systems for injection mould- ing preforms (PM series) as well as for stretch blow moulding same (NB series).  ASB series – broad versatility, multitude of special applications ASB single stage are bestsellers - four stations, such as for preform injection, preform temperature con- ditioning, stretch blow moulding and container eject - for max versatility, production rates from 100 to 10,000 bph (bottles and jars). Bottle sizes vary from 2,5ml to 40l. ASB-15N/10E also available as all-electric versions.  PF series – more compact, less foot print, less investment The PF series is targeting markets of two stage in small and mid-size companies. PF single stage are well positioned - six stations – such as for preform injection, secondary cooling, tempera- ture stabilisation and pitch change, reheating, stretch blow moulding, container ejection. Production rate is between 450 up to 3,200bph. The Nissei ASB single stage machines are produced in Japan (all single stage and hot fill), in India (small ASB 50 and semi-finished ASB-70 as well as PF, which are then finished in Japan). Two step machines are made in Shanghai. (Nissei ASB’s two step machinery is not part of this presentation about single stage.) Strategic aims for implemen- tation Asked about the strategic aims for implementation over the nexed three years, Karel Keersmaekers responds by quoting the corporate slogan “Bal- ance and Surprise”. This means for Nissei ASB  Short term planning for the future: increase in production capacity in the Indian factory. Second factory next to the first factory in Mumbai. Double output in India to be mar- keted and sold.  Focus on moulds, which today already accounts for 23% of sales. The target is to double production capacity in India of moulds in three years, i.e. in total 1,200 moulds produced per annum for injection and blowing.  Introduction of new machines into the market, firstly the ASB-150DPW with double row configuration suit- able for high volume production for cosmetics and food. As we see a trend from glass to PET especially in the wide mouth formats.  Development of a new generation of PF, which is a 1.5 step machine, also with a higher output, i.e. 9,000 bph in a single stage. To be launched on the market in 2012. To extend range into higher output.  New potential market places: “We want to be more active in South America, also in West Africa (countries representing logistic challenges)”. New office in Nige- ria. Reinforcement of staff in Sao Paolo/Brazil. (In this present issue we are not covering Nissei ASB’s developments and targets in the two step arena.) Challenges We asked Karel Keersmaekers: “You are number one. What are the challenges ahead?” And Keersmaek- ers answered for Nissei ASB: “We are number one in single stage, because we have learned to win the market rather than try to beat the competition. We have opened ourselves. We are looking forward. This strategy will be continued. There is room for growth in the single stage market by seeking more applica- tions. But we have also noticed a certain amount of overlapping from single stage to two stage. There are huge numbers of small two stage manufacturers mainly in the Far East, whom we are keeping an eye on, who make two cavity, four cavity mould- ing machines, linear blow moulding machines, that are gaining little by little market share. That is why we develop a new generation of 1.5 stage machines, to counteract the two step- per into our single stage markets. Our response is to offer higher outputs like 10,000bph with versatile features for neck size and bottle capacity, combined with cost effectiveness. To remain on top, we must take care and progress continually.” www.nisseiasb.co.jp