Husky’s new Shanghai Technical Centre helps global customers optimise Asian presence

Husky Injection Molding Systems is positioning its new state-of-the-art Shanghai Technical Centre to provide world-class sales and service support for global manufacturers and processors of plastics parts with operations in China.

The recently opened Technical Centre is Husky’s operational headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region and provides international and local Chinese customers with Husky’s leading-edge injection-moulding technologies and services, including hot runner manufacturing, systems integration, training, demonstrations and mould refurbishment. It is Husky's fourth Technical Centre in Asia and, at 11,500 m2, its largest.

“For European manufacturers with current or planned operations in Asia Pacific, the new Technical Centre delivers the same high level of technical services and support available from Husky in Europe,” says Joel Murphy, General Manager of the Shanghai Technical Centre. “Through our manufacturing capability here, we can enable them to access lower regional production costs and significantly improved customer lead times, both of which are essential to growing business in this market.”

Murphy emphasizes that the new efficiencies in cost and speed do not involve any compromise in quality.

“The Shanghai facility, thanks to close technical co-operation with Husky’s North American and European operations, embodies the expertise and high quality standards for which Husky is known globally,” he says.

Hot runner production will also be conducted at the new centre for the entire Asia Pacific region. To meet market demand, Husky initially began manufacturing hot runner systems at a temporary facility in China in November 2003. This operation, which includes systems planning and design, is now being moved to the permanent centre in Shanghai where a dedicated hot runner plant is being installed. Local production will meet the fast-growing demand for hot runner products, while cutting delivery times and costs.

The new centre also features a comprehensive PET (polyethylene-terephthalate) mould refurbishing facility, with the capability to service up to 144 cavities. Mould refurbishment or conversion is a cost-effective way to extend mould life, update preform design and improve preform quality. The new centre will also significantly cut logistics costs and turnaround time for Husky’s Asia Pacific-based customers, as moulds will no longer need to be shipped to Canada for refurbishment.

Husky’s Factory Planning group was responsible for the design and development of the facility. In addition to an office complex and the hot runner plant, a Technology Bay is being constructed where Husky will be able to assemble machines, as well as entire production installations, thanks to the generous spatial design. Further features of the Centre include a state-of the-art soil based climate control system, which delivers exceptional energy efficiency performance.

Husky currently employs 60 people in the Shanghai facility and a total of 200 in Asia, and will be adding to this during the course of this year and next. With an expected investment of approximately US $35 million, the Shanghai Technical Centre is located in the Waigaoqiao free trade zone in the Pudong area of Shanghai. Expansion planned for 2005 will add space for assembly of injection moulding machines. Other Husky Technical Centres in Asia are in Sydney, Singapore and Yokohama.

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