In a move that considerably broadens its strategic direction, Schwertberg, Austria-based injection moulding machine manufacturer Engel has announced that it is now also entering the pre-owned machinery market. According to the company, Engel Used Machinery s.r.o. is now officially open for business.
Engel Used Machinery will buy back both injection moulding machines and used robots from the Engel series. The company will then refurbish the products prior to reselling these on the market.
Adding this new activity to the portfolio not only expands the scope of the company’s offering, it also made good sense.
"In some cases, a second-hand production cell is the only option. We want to offer our customers a high-quality solution for this requirement, too,” said Dr. Christoph Steger, CSO of the ENGEL Group.
The repurchased injection moulding machines and robots are reconditioned in-house. Engel has created the capacities required for this at its production plants in Austria and the Czech Republic.
Leopold Praher has been appointed as the new general manager at Engel Used Machinery. Praher has been with Engel for more than 30 years, most recently as sales manager Elast/LIM. He will temporarily continue to serve in that role as well, in preparation of an orderly succession within the Elast/LIM division, which is strategically important for Engel.
The new used machinery business is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, as ”Eastern Europe is the largest and fastest-growing market for pre-owned injection moulding machines", according to Praher.