PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2012

REGIONAL MARKET REPORTS 18 PET planet insider Vol. 13 No. 09/12 www.petpla.net still is, responsible for the company’s public image – some- thing which she does very well. Laurent Bousselet, the Product Supply Manager for the past 18 months is an experienced and perceptive manager. Laurent Bousselet gave us a comprehensive presentation of Sidel’s Beijing Plant – all the way from initial concept to today’s reality. He took us through the production side, explaining procedures expertly. We were impressed with his professionalism as well as his sensitivity towards the situation in China, to the mindset of the employees and the fact that the patience and perseverance are necessary for implementing European goals and ideas. His knowledge of manufacturing is at the same high level as his motivation. Husky Injection Moulding Systems, Shanghai F.l.t.r.:John Zhang, Lesley Chen and Joe Man “Make sure your customer is profitable. We met: Joe Man, Consultant, Beverage Packaging Asia Pacific John Zhang, General Manager China South PET&Packaging, Huksy Injection Molding Systems (Shanghai) Lesley Shen, Communication Manager Husky (Injection Molding Systems (Shanghai) Impressions Outside: Green open park land, a large pond with fish and waterfall, a place to relax, overlooking the campus are large buildings with facades of clean concrete, glass and dark col- oured windows. Inside: Widely spaced open offices, with people in visual contact, provided they are not otherwise engaged or occupied by their computer, a large cafeteria, a softly furnished break- out room for brainstorming and innovative ideas, on the walls photographs of Canadian Aboriginal Peoples, landscapes in autumn, bears, both polar and grizzly. No doubt, you have entered Husky territory, recognis- able all over the world, including here in Shanghai. Our visit marked a return to Husky after 6 years. The Shanghai Technical Center has developed into a well organised, mature manufacturing location to assemble Husky injection moulding machines - located still on the same site within the Shanghai bonded, tax free, industrialised area. A view of the Husky Shanghai Technical Center Products All Husky products for beverage packaging, thinwall packaging, and for making caps and closures, medical and consumer electronics – are assembled in the Shanghai plant. This includes the complete suite of Husky systems ranging from the HyPET, HyCAP, HyPAC and base Hylectric systems, to the integration of the all-electric line that includes H-PET AE and H-MED AE. Husky places importance on the statement: All Husky machine products are made from globally sourced compo- nents. All components are identical whether assembled in Bolton, Canada or Shanghai, China. According to Husky the Shanghai location is capable of producing several hundred systems annually. In addi- tion, Husky also manufactures hot runners locally to provide reduced lead times to the Asia market. Outside of the industrialised zone in a separate special- ised facility, Husky refurbishes and in particular converts moulds, for PET preforms – an activity which has grown into a very good business due to the trends towards lightweighting. Market presence In the Chinese market of today more cavities are supplied to brand owners rather than to converters in China: According to PETplanet’s estimates, the overall market consists of 70% to brand owners, 30% to converters. And the percentage shift from converters to brand owners continues – a factor which we had already noted when visiting Zi Jiang. We estimated the general population of PET systems in China to be as high as 520 to 560 systems. We also estimate Husky’s market share amounts to approximately 80% of sys- tems in China. Annual addition of systems is solely for the expansion of PET markets. By contrast, replacement of PET systems is practically unheard of. Brand owners normally do not replace