Engel North America posts record sales year

Engel North America reported a record year for fiscal year 2013, with more than US$200 million in sales.

The figure marks a distinct turnaround for the York, Pa.-based injection molding machine maker. “From the depths of the recession in 2010 with sales of US$59.5 million, [we] ended the fiscal year on March 31, 2013 with record sales,” the company said in a statement.

In North America, Engel’s main markets include automotive, medical, and packaging – and automotive, in particular, played a decisive role in the company’s strong comeback. “Increased vehicle manufacturing, this year on a pace for 15 million units, lower than a historical high of 17 million units but up from a decline to 8 million units, coupled with the earlier departure of Tier 1 and 2 automotive molders from the business, leaves higher volume demand on the remaining suppliers,” the company said. “We’re excited to participate in the resurgence of this and other manufacturing sectors in North America after a period of difficult years in the plastics industry.”

As examples of these other manufacturing sectors, Engel’s packaging and medical business units also saw increases. “Medical markets are demanding increased cavitation, and decreased cycle times, so there is a need for clean-running all-electric machines to meet those demands,” the company said. “Medical markets also use vertical-clamping insert molding machines, for both cleanroom and non-cleanroom environments.”

A division of Austria’s Engel Holding GmbH, Engel North America “has joined its parent company in showing year-over-year sales revenue gains since 2009,” the company said.