In order to meet the growing North American demand for all-electrics, Sumitomo Plastics Machinery (SPM; Norcross, GA) is implementing significant changes to expand and restructure its sales and service organizations.

“The overall market for injection molding machinery in North America surpassed a 40-60 split between electric and hydraulic machines in 2005 and is expected to approach a nearly 50-50 split in 2006,” says Masanobu Sakurai, SPM's president. The company's all-electric platform spans 8-660-ton presses, including micro to midsized, high-speed, high-duty, vertical, insert, multishot, and disk molding machines.

“As the North American market shifts to all-electric injection molding technology, Sumitomo's proven strength in this technology, combined with its wide product offering and U.S. manufacturing capability, put the company in an exceptionally strong position for growth,” Sakurai continues. “The expansion and restructuring of our organization will allow us to better meet the needs of both our existing and our new customers through this period of growth.”

The new sales structure includes two sales VPs for its eastern and western regions, five regional sales managers, an inside technical sales staff, and 19 sales territories covered by manufacturers reps. The company also will be adding a sixth regional sales manager and will open three new regional offices: two in the Midwest and one on the west coast.Among the changes, Jerry Boggs, a 38-year industry vet, has retired as executive VP, but is continuing to serve as a senior advisor to the company on an interim basis to ensure a smooth transition. According to Sakurai, “Boggs has been the company's key man in building the business and organization over the past 15 years, and has been the architect of the new structure.”