Molding machine turnover

While at the Fakuma Show in Germany I spoke with a senior manager of one of the leading molding machine suppliers. In talking about the North American market, he noted that molders there hold onto machines longer than many others. How long, I asked. He said that on average an American injection machine is replaced after 17 years. Compare that to elsewhere, I requested. In Western Europe, he said, a machine is replaced after 11 years of service, on average. This manager is in a position to have good information on the subject. So then...