At NPE 2003, Bishop says the company, which was formally created from Mannesmann Plastics Machinery group firms Demag Ergotech and Van Dorn Demag in August 2003, came to Chicago three years ago with Van Dorn and Demag Ergotech on presses, but that was not the case this year, with seven machines in its stand all marked Demag Plastics Group. Among these was the large Titan series, which replaced the Van Dorn Caliber line, and marked the first full collaboration between the joined firm''s North American headquarters in Strongsville, OH and European base in Schwaig, Germany. Bishop said the company has placed 10 units in the field since their introduction.
At the show the company also announced the completion of a 23-machine order placed in November 2005 by automotive molder Cadence Innovations for its new 735,000-sq-ft plant in Chesterfield Township, MI. The machines, which Demag said were delivered on time, ranged from 300 to 2200 tons, with some units requiring the company''s aftermarket service and installation teams to go to Michigan in April and May. Newly appointed President and CEO Klaus Erkes said overall Demag revenue had climbed since 2003, rising from €311 then to €345 in 2005, for a company that has seen a lot of turnover over the last year-plus, losing former presidents Bill Carteaux and Helmar Franz, marketing executives Gerd Liebig and Larry Doyle, and sales staff, including Stephan Greif in Asia.
