Yizumi injection molding press sales climb in Europe | Plastics News

In the eight short years since machine manufacturer Yizumi entered the European market, the Chinese company has carved out a market for its distinctive green injection molding machine range.

"Even though the investments made during the past two years by our customers have been lower compared to the years before, we have still been able to hold our own in this quite tough and competitive market," said Umüt Topbac, director IMM at Yizumi Precision Machinery (Germany) GmbH.

Sales in Europe have continued to grow each year. Unlike the major European-based brands, which are seeing their formerly high sales levels tumble drastically, Yizumi is starting from a far more humble position.

"They had a lot to lose, whilst we are still climbing. And today, the feedback we get from our customers is that the economy is improving, and they see a light at the end of the tunnel. They are currently planning their investments for 2025 and 2026, including in new machinery," he said.

The sectors that are starting to show some signs of recovery are packaging, logistics and consumer electronics, he added.

"The automotive sector is still struggling — here, in Europe, you understand — not in China," he stressed. "In China, the automotive business is in a better situation, although the margins there are down and prices are deflating — and ultimately, this affects the machinery suppliers as well."

Price competition among the various injection molding machinery brands is nothing new, but in difficult market conditions, companies must find ways to differentiate themselves. As a Chinese machine manufacturer, the price of a Yizumi machine tends to be lower than a comparable European-built one. However, the price, said Topbac, is not the differentiating factor.

"For us, the fact that we have the capability to be a technology partner is more important," he said. "We are not just another Chinese machine builder, supplying standard machines. We are able to handle many special applications — such as 2K, 3K — other Chinese manufacturers cannot."

Topbac noted that the past several years have seen demand rising for technology that goes beyond the standard solutions available from many competitors. The company produces hydraulic, all-electric and servo-hydraulic machines equipped with all the modern sensor technology available. Customers can select the options they need.

"Once again, our philosophy is — because we do a lot of special applications — to offer customized machines rather than simply providing a standard range of functionalities. We want them to get exactly what they need," he said.

One area that has undergone marked growth is automation, with more and more customers wanting such comprehensive solutions as turnkey production cells, precisely tailored to their demands. It is a development that is at least partly driven by the desire to be less dependent on skilled workers. These workers are increasingly difficult to find and recruit, leading converters with little choice but to fill the void through automation.

"In Germany, we work mainly with a single company to deliver the automation systems desired, although for our automotive customers, we develop them ourselves," Topbac said.

Among the exhibits at Fakuma, one such solution is on show. A UN700D1M two-platen hydraulic machine featuring two servo-injection units and a six-station servo-turntable structure is molding thick-wall — 19.5 millimeters — transparent optical lenses from acrylic. The small-footprint cell achieves two-color, six-layer, one shot injection molding in a cycle time of 60 seconds, down from an original cycle time of more than 300 seconds.

Another exhibit features a UN165V2CR vertical injection molding machine molding automotive connectors using dual-station servo-turntable technology combined with one upper and two lower molds to synchronize the robot-facilitated insert embedding and injection, realizing a short, efficient, 30-second cycle time. Robots also pick up products and detect in-chamber product misalignment using machine vision.

"It is with projects like these that we distinguish ourselves from competitors," Topbac said. "The customer comes with demands or requirements and, especially with big automotive customers, we cooperate, working together with the customer to deliver precisely the solution they want."

For Yizumi, Fakuma is an important show. "It's situated at the meeting point of three countries and attracts visitors from all over Europe. Yet it's still a relatively small exhibition compared to the K show, offering opportunities to meet and talk with our customers who are expected to attend. It is a chance to see them all in a short time," Topbac said.

One of the main themes at the show this year once again is sustainability. As Topbac noted, it is a huge issue.

"What I have noticed is that our customers are increasingly better prepared in this regard. They are looking for machines with a low energy consumption, they've installed solar panels to reduce their CO2 footprint, they are looking to be able to process recycled materials and produce products that are reproducible and of a consistent quality. So, yes, that is something we can support them with. In fact, our energy consumption rates are at least as good and sometimes better than European-built machines. But it's essential that we continue to develop and innovate — we can't afford to lose that momentum."

The European injection molding machinery market is contracting, he added. "The cake is getting smaller. For us, special applications are the path to growth. More customization is key."

Yizumi Precision Machinery (Germany) GmbH

A7-7304

See Yizumi, Page 14

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