The value of global plastics and rubber machinery production rose 3.7% in 2012, according to new figures released at the K show in DUsseldorf.

 

Euromap, the umbrella trade group for national associations representing manufacturers of plastics and rubber machinery in nine European countries, estimated the value of production in 2012 was €29.3bn, up 3.68%.

 

The value of machine production in Euromap countries amounted to €12.1bn up 3.2% on 2011, with exports valued at €9.3bn, up 2.4% on the previous year.

 

Euromap expected 2013 to be a "stable" €12bn with a growth estimate next year of 4% to €12.5bn.

 

The organisation's president and general manager at Italian machine maker Tria, Luciano Anceschi, said Euromap members accounted for 41.2% of the total, effectively level with 2011 and 2010, but down 9% on 2008.

 

Exports from Euromap members accounted for 48.5% of the €19.2bn posted in 2012.

 

Major destinations were Europe (40.7%), the Americas (19.4%), "rest of the world" (13.7%) and China (10.3%).

 

Helmut Heinson, Euromap's VP and also sales managing director at Arburg, said Chinese imports of injection moulding machines had risen 8% in 2012, while China's production of such machines had fallen 10% in the same period.

 

On the subject of bringing about a common standard throughout machine manufacturing Euromap said it was pursuing safety standard that were "of global relevance".

 

The organisation's secretary-general Thorsten KUhmann said a meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, in November would look at injection moulding equipment.

 

"We are working on harmonized standards. There will be benefits for all countries.

 

"There is no reason why different countries should have different standards," he added. "The goal must be to have one standard. I'm not saying it's easy, because it's not."