Global Plastics Processing Machinery by Product and Market, 6th Edition

Report Overview

Featuring 131 tables and 93 figures – now available in Excel and Powerpoint!

More Stable Global Economy Stimulating Plastics Machinery Sales

The market for plastics processing equipment is expected to grow 5.6% annually through 2021. This represents an improvement over the 2011-2016 period, boosted by an improving global economy. More stable economic conditions will encourage plastics processors to replace older machinery and undertake capacity expansions.

Key Findings in the Plastics Processing Machinery Study:

3D printing revolution means strong growth for developed countries

By 2021, demand for 3D plastics printers will have surpassed sales of blow molding and extrusion equipment in Western Europe. In North America, it has already happened. 3D printing is busy changing not only how the developed world processes plastics, but also how every stage of the manufacturing process is conducted, from the early design stages to the finished products.

This technology is best suited to individualized, localized solutions, which makes it ideal for the manufacture of prototypes, molds, tools, and custom orders in the aerospace, healthcare, motor vehicle, and tooling market segments. As a result of their many advantages, 3D plastics printers will see the fastest sales increases of any product type by far through 2021.

New middle class tastes boost plastics consumption in emerging markets

In the Asia/Pacific and Africa/Mideast regions, living standards are rising, which means higher demand for cars, medical consumables, packaged foods, toys, and other products. Increased consumption of plastics in these areas is expected to stimulate machinery sales, particularly of higher-end units with higher quality output.

China continues to grow as a global supplier thanks to low cost leadership

Over the past five years, China has emerged as a leading global supplier of injection molding machinery, dethroning the major West European producers. Formerly, most of China’s locally produced equipment was purchased internally, and exports were limited. Chinese producers have made a strong export push in recent years, however, and in 2015 China became a net exporter of plastics processing equipment for the first time. Although equipment produced in China is sold in every major market worldwide, gains have been strongest in developing markets where purchase price is the primary consideration.

Study Coverage

This study provides historical demand data (2006, 2011, and 2016) and forecasts for 2021 by product (injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, 3D plastics printers, thermoforming and other types, and aftermarket parts) and market (packaging, consumer/institutional, construction, motor vehicles, and other). Trade and shipment totals for 23 countries are also supplied. Strategy analysis and market share evaluations are given for such key competitors as Haitian International, KraussMaffei Group ( China National Chemical), Husky Injection Molding, and ENGEL.

This study analyzes world supply of and demand for plastics processing machinery, including aftermarket parts. The major types of primary processing equipment are injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and 3D plastics printers. Other types include thermoforming machinery and all other equipment, such as calendering, compression molding, reaction injection molding, and transfer molding machines.

Excluded from the scope of this study are auxiliary equipment (such as blenders, dryers, feeders, and winders) and secondary machinery used to improve the appearance or usefulness of the final product (like coating, cutting, machining, polishing, and printing equipment), except in situations in which machinery is used in both primary and secondary plastics processing. Plastics processing equipment that forms an integral part of a form/fill/seal packaging machine and molds are also excluded. Machines that process rubber, silicones, and other non-thermoplastic polymers are also excluded.

This study provides historical demand data (2006, 2011, and 2016) and forecasts for 2021 by product (injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, 3D plastics printers, thermoforming and other types, and aftermarket parts) and market (packaging, consumer/institutional, construction, motor vehicles, and other). Trade and shipment totals for 23 countries are also supplied. Strategy analysis and market share evaluations are given for such key competitors as Haitian International, KraussMaffei Group ( China National Chemical), Husky Injection Molding, and ENGEL.

The global market for plastics processing machinery is expected to grow 5.6% annually to $37.5 billion in 2021. This will represent an improvement over the 2011-2016 period, boosted by stable economic conditions. This will encourage plastics processors to replace older machinery and undertake capacity expansions, stimulating equipment demand.

By 2021, demand for 3D plastics printers will have surpassed sales of blow molding and extrusion equipment in Western Europe. This already occurred in the US in 2013. 3D printing is changing not only how the developed world processes plastics, but also how every stage of the manufacturing process is conducted, from the early design stages to the finished product.

Over the past five years, China has emerged as a leading global supplier of machinery, dethroning the major West European producers. Formerly, most of China’s locally produced equipment was purchased domestically, and exports were limited. However, Chinese producers have made a strong export push in recent years to make up for slowing sales at home, and in 2015 China became a net exporter of plastics processing equipment for the first time. Although equipment produced in China is sold in every major market worldwide, gains have been strongest in developing markets where purchase price is the primary consideration.