In response to competitive pressure and a general drop in orders in the film extrusion machinery business, Reifenhäuser will restructure its company to be more flexible and customer focused, officials have announced. On July 1, the German equipment maker will spin off its synthetic fiber division, responsible for the manufacture of spunbond and meltlbown nonwovens equipment, and establish an indepdendent company y named Reifenhäuser Reicfoil gmbH. As part of this restructuring effort, the parent company will cut approximately 10% of its global workdforce of 800.

Following the restructuring, Reifenhäuser will consist of six independent companies. Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik, based in Troisdorf, Germany, develops and produces extrusion lines for production of cast film, thermoforming sheets and blown film, extrusion coating lines, counter-rotating twin-screw extruders, single-screw extruders, lines for direct extrusion of wood and fibres and extrusion dies. Reifenhäuser Reicofil GmbH & Co. KG, Troisdorf, develops and produces lines for production of spunbond and meltblown fabrics. Reifenhäuser Plastic Machinery, Suzhou , China produces standardized three-layer blown film lines for the Asian market in an additional assembly plant inaugurated in 2004 near Shanghai. Reimotec Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH located in Ober-Abtsteinach, Odenwald, Germany, develops and produces extrusion lines for production of strapping tapes and spinning lines for monofilaments used as tennis racquet strings, fishing lines, screening mesh, artificial turf or technical textiles.. Reiloy Metall GmbH, Troisdorf, produces wear- and corrosion-resistant top-quality alloys employed in bimetallic barrels and screws used as core components for various extruders and injection molding machines and sold worldwide to manufacturers of plastics processing machines.. Polyrema Davo GmbH & Co. KG / Polyrema KG in Troisdorf-Bergheim purchases, refurbishes and sells pre-owned extrusion lines. These lean-structured production units act independently, offer a 24 hours service worldwide and are adapted to competition and market requirements.

Despite the slowdown in film extrusion business, Reifenhäuser’s total group sales are expected to increse 10% to more the E250 million for the year ended June 30, according to executives.