InterPlas Thailand: Exhibitors' Feedback

Sheng Cheng (Thailand) Co., Ltd. had a booth displaying a high-speed injection moulding machine and robotics from Taiwan. “This machine makes food packaging faster because you don’t have to produce the cup and then screen it for labelling again,” said managing director Chun-Fan Su. “We came to InterPlas Thailand because it gives us a chance to meet our customer base and it is the biggest plastics exhibition in Bangkok. Sales in Asia have been quite quiet this year for the plastics industry, but we see a lot of room for growth in Thailand.

The company has been importing machines and technology from Taiwan and China for over 30 years in Thailand, including injection moulding, robots and other auxiliaries. “We’ve been able to stay in the business this long because we are able to fulfil our customers’ needs. They tell us what they need and we can either create a custom machine or combine the work of two machines together. Sheng Cheng has found a lot of success in the food packaging and medical device industries in Thailand.” Mr. Chun-Fan Su added.

Mr Chun-Fan Su
Managing director
Sheng Cheng (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Tel: +66-2 416 4891 Fax: +66-2 416 6824
E-mail: chunfansu@sc-th.com
Website: www.sc-th.com

Erich Ziegler, director for Ultra Plast Asia Co., Ltd., had the equivalent of a supermarket of plastics products and services set up at InterPlas Thailand. Through Ultra Plast Asia and Advanced Plastic Intertrade Co., Ltd., Mr Ziegler provides a panoply of high-grade options from Europe including film blowing and cast film extrusion lines, corona surface treatment systems, print image and surface inspection systems, material surface treatment and perforation, air cooling systems for blown film, extrusion lines for plastics recycling, solvent recycling and parts washing machines, viscosity control for printing inks, bio-degradable or compostable additives, and purging compounds for cleaning machines.

“Why do I exhibit at InterPlas Thailand? I was just asking myself that same question. Most of the other companies here are from China, and previously the organisers tried to combine this exhibition with the automotive industry and steelmakers, which provides a mixed focus,” he said. “Our products and services are mostly for a high-end market, so many of our customers are the leading plastics manufacturers in Thailand. But even so it usually takes about five years for us to teach these companies why it is important to use our machines. Most Thai companies don’t understand their cost structure, and even the big conglomerates and universities I have to struggle to educate them. You will find very few people in the industry here even speak English.”

The company now sells its recycling and/or purging products to major corporations such as Toyota, Ford, Suzuki, Yamaha and Panasonic in Thailand, but this was not out of concern for the environment. It happened the moment petrochemicals became more expensive. “Our purging compounds cause a chemical reaction that quickly cleans out the colours, gels, black specks and other contamination in machines, so our challenge remains convincing companies in Thailand they will save time and money if they use our products.”

Mr. Erich Ziegler
Director
Ultra Plast Asia Co., Ltd.
Tel: +66-2 337 3941 Fax: +66-2 337 3942
E-mail: info@ultraplastasia.com
Website: www.ultra-system.it

Shanghai Ruichang Machinery Co., Ltd. used the trade show to display its parallel twin and single screw extrusion machines. The company makes several machines that are used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, PVC profile and wood-plastic composites (WPCs).

“Shanghai Ruichang came to InterPlas Thailand because we have a lot of customers in this country and we want to develop our business here further,” said managing director Shuguang Wang. “The feedback in Thailand has been positive because customers feel they are getting good quality machines at a fair price. We are optimistic about the Thai market based on the responses we have received,” Mr Shuguang added.

The company offers  a wide variety of machines, including those for PVC celuka foam board and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/polypropylene pipe extrusion.

 
Mr. Shuguang Wang
Managing Director
Shanghai Ruichang Machinery Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86-21 5164 1231 Fax: +86-21 51641232
E-mail: shuguang@shruichang.cn
Website: www.shruichang.cn

G.D. Propack Co., Ltd. came to InterPlas Thailand because it has a novel technology that only a few people in the country know about, said business development manager Teerasate Charoenpoonsiri.
“Part of our goal in coming here is to let more people know about our machines,” he said. “We use heat to print film labeling, which is a big advantage when you print with a lot of colour as it is scratch-resistant. This process is much better than silk-screening. Only a few people in Thailand know about this technology, and we are one of the few Thai companies to provide these machines. We also provide film. The silk screen process requires five people, one for every colour station. With our machine, you only need one employee, which is a great advantage at a time when Thailand is struggling through a labour shortage.”

The machines also eliminate all the smells and chemicals of the ink, and comply with all the EU environmental standards. “In fact, we have even sold some machines to companies in Europe. Some of our local customers include Est and Beger.  The feedback in Asia has been quite good, especially as the quality from Chinese machines is unstable, so we get a lot of their upset customers. This heat transfer application uses in-mould labeling to put film in the injection process, so it works well for big batches, but smaller orders may still find it cost-effective to use traditional methods. Our main challenge is getting the word out to Thai customers that this technology exists in Thailand,” according to him.

Mr. Teerasate Charoenpoonsiri
Business Development Manager
G.D. Propack Co., Ltd.
Tel: +66-92 496 2541 Fax: +66-2 870 2827
E-mail: teerasate.ch@gd.co.th
Website: www.gd.co.th

Nikka Rubber & Plastic (Thailand) Co., Ltd. also believes it can offer something unique to customers in the region — the production of rubber and plastic parts without using metal moulds. The advantages are the customer doesn’t have to pay to design and build the metal tools or moulds, the company works with customers to design custom prototypes quickly, there is no minimum quantity and delivery is fast.

“We exhibited at InterPlas Thailand two or three years ago and it was a good experience,” said international business manager Wakui Tatsuya. “Last year the government was unstable so we decided not to come. But now that the government is stable again, we came back because most companies in Thailand do not have access to these kinds of products, and we want to widen our appeal.”

Nikka Thailand is a subsidiary of its parent in Japan, which works with Moriteq to help design the custom prototypes. It works with natural rubber, silicone, urethane, chloroprene, plastic, nitrile rubber and EpT rubber. Customers need only provide a concept and design, a dimension or drawing, material specification, the application and a sample.

“Our company has been in Thailand for three years, and so far the feedback has been positive,” he said. “Initially most of our customers were Japanese companies in Thailand, but now 80% of our customers are Thai.

“Of course Thailand produces a lot of rubber, but what we offer is a niche product that no one else provides here.”

Mr. Wakui Tatsuya
International Business Manager
Nikka Rubber & Plastic (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Tel: +66-2 516 5292 Fax: +66-2 516 5292
E-mail: nikkathailand@gmail.com
Website: www.nikkarubberandplasticthailand.com

For Jon Wai Machinery Works Co., Ltd., exhibiting at InterPlas is simply about being in the game. The Taiwanese company has been selling to the Thai market for over three decades and the trade show is an opportunity to display its latest products.

“Jon Wai is the leading injection moulding machine manufacturer in Taiwan. Our latest labeling turnkey project takes 7.5 seconds for a one-litre paint pail/ice cream container. It offers an injection speed of 550 millimetre per second and fast movement because of the five-point internal clamping system. Our solutions combine moulds, automation, labeling and materials,” said managing director Ricky Hsieh.  Jon Wai machines have labeled cars, luggage, Tupperware, food packaging and dining ware.

“Five years ago, the market in Thailand was better,” he said. “The last two years have seen a sales slump, but then that has happened everywhere in the world.  This trade show helps to keep our name in the market, maintains our brand recognition. Jon Wai sells about 500 sets of machines in Thailand,” Mr. Hsieh stressed.


Mr. Ricky Hsieh
Managing Director
Jon Wai Machinery Works Co., Ltd.
Tel: +886-2 2595 4867 ext.226 Fax: +886-2 2593 2358
E-mail: infor.tw@jonwai.com.tw
Website: www.jonwai.com