According to a recent survey, the member companies of VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery expect the order situation and turnover volumes to show positive developments for 2021.

“In the second half of 2020, the demand for plastics and rubber machinery has clearly changed across all regions. The situation in China and Germany is seen as particularly positive,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery trade association at VDMA.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser continued, “And expectations regarding the development of incoming orders in the current first half of 2021 are entirely optimistic.”

Rising number of incoming orders and turnover volumes are expected in 2021. (Photo: shutterstock/VDMA)

This is also reflected in the expected turnover trend. Almost half of the survey respondents anticipate an upswing in the turnover development during the first half of 2021; for the second half of the year, over 50% of participating enterprises forecast turnover figures to develop even more positively.

“Therefore, it comes as no surprise that almost half the companies interviewed plan to employ new staff in the first half year of 2021,” commented Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery trade association.

He added that, “It looks like the plastics and rubber machinery industry can look forward to a successful business year. We will be viewing the coming months with anticipation, and hope that our expectations will be met.”

At the end of 2020, figures already hinted at a distinct turnaround in the plastics and rubber machinery industry. The sector had recovered swiftly after the first challenge posed by the COVID-19 crisis and this was reflected in distinctly higher incoming order volumes from October onwards. The year closed with a 7% increase in orders compared to 2019.