Battenfeld Chen: Further expansion & new factory
Since its founding in 1996, Battenfeld Chen Extrusion Systems Ltd, Shunde, PR China, a member company of SMS Plastics Technology, has been extremely successful. The machinery manufacturer has experienced a continuous increase in sales, which reached 13 million US $ in 2003, being ten times the sales figure realized in the beginning. A full order book and an expanding product line now make it necessary to extend the company’s production capacity.
On a 17,000 m² site, also in Shunde, close to the existing facility, a new building with an 8,300 m² production hall and technical center, and a 1,200 m² office block is currently under construction. The capital investment for this ultra-modern, generously dimensioned new facility is estimated in excess of 2 million US $. Completion is planned for the beginning of 2004.
The strategy that has brought success to the Shunde company is the local production of high-quality extrusion equipment with proven western-standard Battenfeld technology. At present Battenfeld Chen Extrusion Systems has a workforce of 110 employees and ships between 25 and 35 complete extrusion lines annually. Inspired by the excellent reception of its pipe and profile extrusion equipment in the market, the machine manufacturer has extended its product range to include also blown film extrusion lines. This has met with an overwhelming response: orders for seven blown film lines have been placed so far, with three lines already installed and operating to the customers’ complete satisfaction. The management of Battenfeld Chen Extrusion Systems estimates that the blown film line business will constitute 30% of the company’s total sales volume this year. New product lines are planned for the coming year as well, including conical twin screw extruders to be introduced at the Chinaplas-Beijing in December.