Zhafir marks “topping out” of first German factory

European assembly of the Zhafir Venus Series of all-electric injection moulding machines from China’s giant Haitian International Holdings has edged a step closer with last week’s topping out ceremony of the €10m ($13.85m) site in Germany.

The 5,000 sqm building was completed in a three month construction period at Zhafir Plastics Machinery's Ebermannsdorf site, in a project that the company sees as "defying the recession." The schedule calls for the assembly of the Venus units to start at the end of this year.

The Zhafir Mercury series of all-electric machines is already in the test phase and the intention is to release the Germany-assembled model at next year’s K show, according to Ningbo,China-based Haitian. Prices for the machines are predicted to be "on a par with the hydraulic machines of the European competition."

The sister plant in Ningbo has already sold 130 machines of the Venus type in more than 20 countries and the order books are currently full, the firm said in a statement.

Founded in 2005, Zhafir Plastics Machinery was integrated into Haitian International Holding Corporation in 2007. The business is headed by former Demag Plastics Group chief Helmar Franz.

Since 2007, 12 engineers from China and Germany have been developing the next generation of all-electric machine which is claimed to offer "revolutionary solutions to the high tech customers."

Speaking at the ceremony, Haitian International Chairman Jian Jianming said: “Zhafir is an extremely important technology project for Haitian International.” Last year, the company achieved sales of RMB3.82bn (€395 million).