Smart Molding International 1-2025

4 smart_molding international 1/2025 Since 2007, HICAP Group and Haitian Plastics Machinery have embarked on a collaborative journey founded on technology and trust. Haitian injection molding machines are integral to HICAP’s operations, powering its six nationwide bottle cap production bases. The stable performance of over 200 Haitian injection molding machines demonstrates the depth of this partnership. At the Huai’an facility alone, 96 Haitian machines are planned for deployment, with 39 already operational. The factory is scaling up its production capacity. 20 contents CONTENTS Barnes Group Inc., a global provider of highly engineered products, differentiated industrial technologies and innovative solutions, has announced that funds managed by affiliates of Apollo have completed the previously announced acquisition of Barnes in an all-cash transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately $3.6 billion. “We are pleased to announce the completion of our transaction with Apollo Funds, which opens the door to the next phase in Barnes’ evolution,” said Thomas J. Hook, President and CEO of Barnes. 9 newsfeed ENGEL expands production capacities in the Americas: new plant opened in Mexico 6 Netstal strengthens global customer proximity and establishes its own subsidiary in Mexico 7 New APAC headquarters for PiovanGroup 8 Factory expansion of the American subsidiary 9 Apollo Funds completed acquisition of Barnes Group 9 New leadership chapter at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag North America 10 Husky welcomes Balaji Suresh as new Chief Operations Officer 10 HEKUMA to be renamed “BBS Automation” as four brands become one 11 BOY at CHINAPLAS 2025 11 molding outlook Molding novelties in 2024 12 machinery High-grade cosmetics packaging produced sustainably and efficiently 16 Battery Innovation Day dazzles with the ENGEL duo 5500 combi M 18 Sincere collaboration to elevate liquor packaging 20 molds and tooling HASCO developed new French monocoupling system 21 Progressive introduced new runner components 21 molding technologies igus:bike world tour: plastic bicycle braves the elements 22 inspection and quality control CapWatcher Compact: Big on quality. Small in footprint. 24 materials The world's first biomass-balanced polyethersulfone (PESU) 26 Polyplastics launches new eco-friendly PLASTRON® LFT and DURAFIDE® PPS 27