Arburg opens subsidiary in Romania

* The German machinery manufacturer continues to expand its operations internationally, https://www.sustainableplastics.com/ reads     Arburg has announced it has expanded its presence in Eastern Europe with the opening of a new subsidiary in Romania. Based in Bucharest, the new subsidiary opened in April and is headed by Interim Managing Director Dr Daniel Orel, who is also responsible for Arburg subsidiaries in Czechia and Slovakia.   Arburg said the expansion is intended to make its products and services readily available to the ‘growing’ Romanian market, which is steadily adopting new technologies like electric injection moulding machines, robotic systems, and automation. Most of the plastics processing companies in Romania produce components for the automotive industry. The electronics, building technology and construction, packaging, and household goods industries are also represented.   "Romania is very important for Arburg,” said Steffen Eppler, vice president sales Europe. “Increasingly, companies are also installing very sophisticated systems there. The infrastructure in the country has improved significantly in the last 20 years. Now as before, entire productions are still being moved to Romania. This is another reason why we want to offer our existing customers comprehensive advice and services on site and thus also win new customers.”   Manufacturing companies across various industries have been moving their productions to Eastern Europe, motivated by cheaper labour costs than in Western Europe. Countries like Romania enjoy proximity to key consumption markets and offer good transport infrastructure, leading to lower costs and shorter lead times. Arburg said opening the new subsidiary was a ‘logical step’ after its trading partner for the past 24 years closed its business and decided not to ‘pass it on’. That partner was Plastic Technology Service (PTL), Arbur told Sustainable Plastics. The Bucharest office has absorbed most of the service technicians from Arburg’s previous trading partner. Those 11 employees have a wealth of experience as Arburg service technicians and are already known to the customers, the company said in a statement.   With the opening of the new subsidiary in Romania, Arburg now has its own organisations at 37 locations in 27 countries as well as trading partners in over 100 countries.   In March, Arburg announced it would start assembling injection moulding machines outside of Germany for the first time. The Lossburg-based manufacturer will expand its production to Asia and North America. It will first start assembling injection moulding machines at its existing factory in Pinghu, China, and it will afterwards consider its options in the North American continent.   The move was a major paradigm shift for the German injection machine manufacturer. At the time, managing partner Michael Hehl said a ‘changed global and market situation’ with ‘ever more dynamic requirements’ require a shift in direction.