Billion: Strategic Partnership with Engel – Future Focus on Service Rather Than New Machine Business

Korbinian Kiesl (President/CEO of Billion SAS, left) and Stefan Engleder (CEO of the Engel Group, right) – (Image: Billion).

French injection molding machine manufacturer Billion SAS and Engel Austria GmbH have entered into a strategic partnership with immediate effect. As part of this strategic realignment, Billion will focus in future on maintenance and service for the plastics industry. For investments in new injection molding machines, the company will recommend Engel to its customers as its preferred supplier. Billion will remain an independent company.

Billion will continue to be the primary point of contact for its existing installed machine base and will continue to provide its service activities independently. Where additional resources are required, for example in certain geographical regions, the company will in future be able to draw on Engel’s international service network and technical expertise. According to the company, Engel operates twelve production sites in Europe, North America, Mexico, and Asia, as well as subsidiaries and representatives in more than 85 countries.

Advert

The partnership also covers future investment projects by existing Billion customers. According to Engel, the machine concepts of the two manufacturers are sufficiently compatible to allow existing molds used by Billion customers to also be operated on Engel machines. This is intended in particular to facilitate the transition when making new investments.

At the same time, Engel is expanding its presence in France. An Engel machine will in future be available for trials and demonstrations at Billion’s technical center in Bellignat. Engel already operates a French sales subsidiary in Wissous near Paris, and the partnership will additionally provide access to Billion’s infrastructure in France’s “Plastics Vallée.”

The agreement represents a fundamental strategic shift for Billion. Founded in 1949 by Léon Billion, the company has until now been known primarily as a manufacturer of injection molding machines and a specialist in multi-component technology. Under the newly announced strategic direction, the focus will no longer be on manufacturing and marketing its own new machines, but rather on supporting its installed machine base and providing service and IT solutions. New machine investments, by contrast, will be covered through Engel.

More information: www.billion.fr, engelglobal.com

Billion S.A.S., Bellignat, Frankreich

back to news list