Synventive shifts all European manufacturing to Germany

Citing the demanding competitive environment in Europe, shorter lead times, and higher quality standards, hot runner manufacturer Synventive Molding Solutions will cease manufacturing at its Gravendeel, Netherlands operation, and consolidate all fabrication on the continent at its Bensheim, Germany plant.

Synventive reached an agreement with the Dutch works council and labor union to cut the jobs, offering an agreed upon social plan for affected employees. Synventive now manufactures hot runner systems, machine nozzles, temperature controllers, and sprue bushings from Bensheim plus Peabody, MA, and Suzhou, China, which opened last year. The company will maintain sales, application engineering, service, and research and development at Gravendeel.

In July 2005, Synventive was acquired by private equity firm, Advent International, which estimated the global hot runner market at $1.1 billion with 4%-5% annual overall growth, and 7% expansion in the automotive sector through 2010. As part of the acquisition, Advent controls Synventive''s board. Synventive, long known as a manufacturer of large hot runners, has been working to develop new, smaller hot runners suitable for the medical, packaging and other markets, reducing its dependency on the automotive market.-Tony Deligio; [email protected]