Abstract:

　　Demag Plastics Machinery Co (Ningbo) Ltd wants to turn its China injection press assembly　plant into an export base to Southeast Asia and South America, and aims to have about one-third of its production shipped overseas within two years.

　　That would be a big change from the less than 5% that is exported now from the factory,which is part of Japanese-German press maker Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery. It　comes as the company is adding larger tonnage machines in Ningbo to better compete in　growing Chinese markets like automobile manufacturing, said Stephan Greif, chief executive　of Demag Ningbo.

　　Even with the export push, the firm is still focused on China, and Greif said strong demand　within the country is expected to push production in Ningbo up to 650 machines this year,above the previous record of 500 in 2007, after the near economic meltdown pushed its China　production down to 320 last year.

　　Greif said he wants to push more exports to “balance the ups and downs in China.”

　　The fallout of the economic crisis and rising costs in China are changing the kinds of　production done in China by Demag customers, with more of the lower-level production　leaving the country, and demand now more driven by internal growth and higher-value　production, Greif said.

　　“[Nobody comes] to China anymore for cheap labour,” he said. “People who come now come　only for the market.”

　　He said the economic challenges have led to big changes in the make-up of the injection　press industry in Ningbo, which is one of China’s centres of injection press　manufacturing. There were about 150 press makers in Ningbo before the crisis 18 months ago,but only about 45 remain, Greif said.

　　“Those companies could not adjust, they could not increase their technology,” he said. “

　　This is a very clear picture.”

　　Demag is also dramatically expanding the range of machines it makes in Ningbo, previously　in the range of 50 to 250 tons.

　　The company has been gradually adding machines this year at 280, 350, 420 and 500 tons, and　plans to start making 650 ton machines this month and 800 tons by year-end, Greif said.

　　Historically, about two-thirds of the 2,600 Demag Ningbo machines sold in China have been　in electronics and telecom, which take smaller machines