Lead Feature

Husky pumps up hot runner business

Purportedly the largest manufacturer of hot runner systems and temperature controllers in the world Husky Injection Molding Systems’s recent investments have extended its global leadership. Having achieved an annual growth rate of more than 15% in this market over the last five years, Husky has expanded its technical centres in Japan and China and increased its capacity in Brazil. With manufacturing located in Vermont, Luxembourg and Shenzhen, it is looking at setting up a facility in Chennai, India. In the product sector, it has introduced an electric synchronised valve stem actuated hot runner and its smallest valve gated nozzle to date - the Ultra 350.

We spoke to Dinesh Budapanahalli, recently appointed as Vice-President, Service and Sales, Global Hot Runners and Tooling, about the company’s plans. Since joining Husky in 1992, he has served in a number of positions in North America and Asia and most recently held the position of General Manager, Tooling Operations, Asia.

PRA: What is the scope of your job in your capacity as Vice-President, Service and Sales, Global Hot Runners and Tooling?

Dinesh: I am responsible for growing Husky’s worldwide hot runner and tooling business. In the short-term, I will be working closely with all members of our service and sales team to grow our business globally. Husky maintains the industry’s widest and most extensive sales distribution network to directly serve our regional customers. My goal is to fully integrate our service and sales team to more effectively meet the needs of global customers who require prompt solutions at the local level.

PRA: Your appointment comes at a time when the global plastics industry is undergoing challenging times. What, in your opinion, should tooling companies do to tide over this difficult time?

Dinesh: Tooling customers have an increasingly global outlook within their businesses and are demanding quality, performance and flexibility from their suppliers. In order to deliver the solutions they require, companies must align their service and sales efforts to help customers achieve the lowest cost of operation at their facilities.

It is important that companies continue to invest in research and development to provide customers with innovative solutions that will differentiate them from their competitors in terms of time to market, product quality and part cost.  The medical market is a prime example of this need. Mould makers who want to diversify into medical or those already in the market who want to maintain their competitive edge need up-to-date, high-tech engineering and manufacturing capabilities to meet the industry’s stringent quality standards. Husky responds to this need by providing a number of products and services to improve the accuracy, cycle time and versatility of medical injection moulds.

PRA: Since you were based in Asia for a while, please provide an overview of this market in terms of how it is developing.

Dinesh: The Asian market is growing with both multi-national and domestic companies entering into the plastics business. Markets like beverage packaging, food packaging, closures, medical and consumer electronics are experiencing growth, even with the current state of the economy. An improved standard of living is also contributing to increasing demands for better, safer, thinner and faster applications that, on the manufacturing side, must still be cost-effective.

PRA: Husky has invested in R&D over the past year and expanded its product portfolio. Please describe the latest products introduced.

Dinesh: Husky’s Ultra 350 nozzle valve gating technology is designed for ultra-compact, multi-cavity production of small closure, medical and technical applications. Such applications require tight gating access to produce plastic parts that are thinner, lighter and smaller. Additionally, our integrated Altanium temperature controller maintains optimal temperatures to ensure these parts are produced to the highest quality standards. This is especially crucial for medical and consumer electronics applications that typically use engineering resins that are sensitive to heat. When working with such resins itis very important to have balanced manifolds and temperatures in nozzles.

PRA: What are Husky's plans for the Indian market?

Dinesh: Over the next five years, the plastics industry in India and neighbouring countries is projected to grow significantly. In fact, demand for plastics packaging in this region is likely to double. Investment here will ensure that Husky is at the forefront of this growth. A new facility is set to open in Chennai, India to service the local needs of this region.