Injection molding: Haitian shifts European HQ to Germany

From June 2010, Haitian Europe will operate in Germany. The move is designed to help Haitian (Ningbo, China) capture more of the German market, it says, with both its Haitian-brand machines as well as with its Zhafir machinery, which is designed and assembled in Germany and wholly owned by Haitian and its management. This is something of a switch from the company’s announced strategy when it formed the Zhafir business unit; at that time it said the Zhafir presses most likely would be marketed into the Asian market.

Zhafir Plastics Machinery is based in Ebermannsdorf, Germany. Haitian Europe will be based near Nuremberg, about two hours from Ebermannsdorf.

Haitian Europe is one of parent company Haitian International’s five regional offices worldwide and for years has been based in Italy, a layover from when the company was a Haitian distributor owned by Italian management. Eric Taveau, general manager of Haitian Europe, said, “After all, Germany is the largest and most significant European market. The advantages of positioning yourself as close as possible to the client are clear. By relocating our place of business we are guaranteeing optimum sales and service support.”

The Zhafir facility recently expanded its assembly capacity, and the parent company predicts its Venus series of all-electric machines will find favor in Europe’s molding community. Haitian already has a market-leading presence in Turkey, it says, and also sells well in some Eastern European countries. Zhafir expects to start assembly of a high-end molding machine, to be called the Mercury Series, at the site in Ebermannsdorf in 2010. —[email protected]