Schwaig, September 16, 2019 – Effective September 9, 2019, Mr. Stephan Greif is handing over the leadership responsibilities of Demag Plastics Machinery Ningbo Co. Ltd to incoming Managing Director Mr. Pietro Scattarreggia.

For close to two decades, Mr. Stephan Greif has successfully led the Chinese subsidiary of the Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery Group. The impact of Stephan’s contribution, comprising the merger with Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. in March 2008 and the significant expansion of production capabilities in Ningbo in April 2015 have all been critical in cementing the company’s domestic market presence and global reputation as an machinery innovator.

Reflecting on the importance of the Chinese market and the significance of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag being the first European injection moulding machine manufacturer to establish its presence there, CEO Gerd Liebig hails Stephan’s entrepreneurial spirit as being the pillar of the company’s deep rooted success.

Thanking Stephan for his dedication and unwavering alliance to the Group’s global strategy, Gerd comments: “When the Chinese market started to boom during the 1980s, tried and tested machine concepts made in Germany were very sought after, especially by multinational car manufacturers and their suppliers. Opening a production location 21 years ago in Ningbo certainly gave us a head start in the Chinese market.

“It’s testament to this foresight, Stephen’s charismatic actions and the longstanding experienced employees in Ningbo and Shanghai that today we have such as successful standalone operation that is a model of Chinese-German engineering innovation and teamwork”, adds Gerd.

At the start, the company’s production area in Ningbo measured 3,500 m². In 2015, driven by rapidly growing demand for technically advanced injection moulding machines, Ningbo’s production footprint increased more than fivefold. Having realised his ambition, creating a prospering enterprise and paving the way for future growth in China and South East Asia, Stephan hands over the reigns to successor Mr. Pietro Scattarreggia.

For more than 18 years, Mr. Scattarreggia has worked at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH in numerous sales and service management posts. As the former business development director for the company’s electronics and medical segment at the Group’s European headquarters, Mr. Scattarreggia brings a fresh service and consultancy perspective when he relocates to China, effective September 9, 2019.

Gerd comments: “These are exciting times. Mr. Scattarreggia will continue to follow through with the company’s domestic and global strategy and uphold our position as a prospering Chinese company, balancing deeply rooted traditions while investing in future application engineering consultancy, innovative customer-service and automation concepts to stimulate future economic growth for our customers and local distributors. We all wish the team in China every success.”

Commenting on his new appointment as Managing Director of Demag Plastics Machinery Ningbo Co. Ltd, Mr. Scattarreggia adds: “China is the biggest and most dynamic market for plastic manufacturing in the world. Looking to the future, this market will increasingly demand more reliable high-performance production systems in order to meet the quality expectations of end users. Regionally, we will be particularly focused on supporting manufactures that are driving developments in the fast growing e-mobility, high speed packaging and high end medical segments.”

Returning to Germany, Mr. Greif will continue to consult with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, sharing his extensive service and sales experiences.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has shaped the development of the plastics industry from its very beginning. As a specialist for injection moulding machines for plastics processing, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag and its Japanese parent company are leading the industry.

The global development and production network of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is comprised of four facilities in Japan, Germany and China with more than 3,000 employees. The product portfolio includes all-electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection moulding machines with clamping forces of between 180 and 15.000 kN. With more than 125,000 installed machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in important global markets and ranks among the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world.

At Sumitomo’s headquarters in Chiba, Japan, the company manufactures machines with clamping forces in the small to medium range. Nearly 95 % of all delivered machines are equipped with an all-electric drive concept. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s German facilities in Schwaig and Wiehe produce the Systec Servo range with hybrid drive as well as the El-Exis SP and Systec SP range of high-speed, high-performance machines. The all-electric IntElect range for international customers is also being produced in Germany.

As early as 1998, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag set up its first production site in Ningbo/China. In 2015, the Chinese subsidiary Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. installed a new facility with a 13,000 m² floor space. It is earmarked for the production of the Systec C range with clamping forces of between 500 and 10,000 kN for the Asian market.

In addition to injection moulding machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag offers customised and standardised systems for the part handling automation, technical and process solutions for special applications, tailored services and service concepts as well as a range of financial options to support investment in injection moulding machines.

With its comprehensive sales and service network of subsidiaries and agencies, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in all major markets.

Press release issued for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH by:Lucy Benbow, Sarah Willington