French injection moulding machinery manufacturer Billion has ceased making equipment but will continue servicing its existing machines under a new strategic partnership with Engel, the companies have announced.
As part of the collaboration, which has taken immediate effect, Billion will remain an independent company and continue as the first point of contact for servicing operations.
However, the Oyonnax-based company, which has been making injection moulding equipment since 1949, will recommend Engel, which is headquartered in Schwertberg, Austria, as its preferred supplier for new machines.
The companies claim the move will enable ‘reliable planning’ for both the existing fleet and future investment as well as provide ‘continuity’ for customers.
An extra safety net
Should additional resources be needed in countries where it has a limited presence, Billion will be able to draw on Engel’s larger international service network and technical expertise, providing an extra safety net for all customers.
The partnership is also said to give Engel the opportunity to make use of Billion’s facilities, bringing it physically closer to ‘Plastics Valley’ – one of the plastics industry’s key regions in eastern France – allowing both teams to get closer to their customers.
“We made a deliberate choice to partner with a strong European player, because the long-term security of our customers matters most to us,” said Korbinian Kiesl, president and chief executive of Billion.
“In Engel, we’ve found a partner known for quality, reliability and the highest standards of confidentiality – exactly what our customers expect from us. The fact that Engel is also a family-owned business was an important factor in our decision.”
Complementary concepts
Engel Group chief executive Stefan Engleder said: “We’re delighted about this partnership with Billion. The machine concepts of both companies complement each other so well that Billion customers will still be able to use their familiar tooling on Engel machines going forward.
“We want them to feel they’re in good hands with us – we understand them, and thanks to this partnership, we now speak their language too, standing by them as a strong partner.”
Currently, the injection moulding market is navigating a raft of changing conditions, spanning fluctuating demand, increased international competition and a greater focus on economies of scale.
In July, Arburg agreed to acquire Stork IMM, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of injection moulding machines for packaging applications.
Last December, Japanese machinery makers Nissei Plastics Industrial and Toyo Innovex also announced they would be merging their businesses under a newly created holding company called Global Moulding Solutions Group.
