ITPLAST Sett/Ott 2026 | Page 29

ECONOMY AND MARKET

EPF and Shibaura Machine: Project for a JV in Southern Europe

EPF Elettrotecnica S. r. l., an Italian company specialized in industrial automation, and Shibaura Machine Co., a Japanese group active in the manufacture of injection molding machines and industrial solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) to evaluate the establishment of a joint venture aimed at strengthening the group’ s presence in the Southern European market. The initiative arises from the growing demand for integrated solutions for the automation and digitalization of production processes. According to Shibaura Machine, customers increasingly require not just single machines, but complete and highly automated production lines capable of increasing efficiency and competitiveness. The project involves spinning off EPF’ s injection molding business into Shibaura Machine Europe( SME), a company that will become the reference point for sales and service activities in Southern Europe. In the new configuration, Shibaura Machine will hold approximately 60 % of the shares, while EPF will maintain a stake of around 40 %, continuing to collaborate on the development of automated plants and sales activities. The announcement represents the evolution of an established partnership between the two companies. During the Open House organized by EPF, Shibaura Machine’ s European leadership emphasized how the relationship of trust built over the past thirty years has laid the foundation for a new strategic step. According to what was presented during the event, the future company will become the benchmark hub for Southern Europe, with coverage extending beyond the Italian market to include all countries south of the Alps. For EPF, founded in 1961 and led by Franco Filippi, the transaction represents an opportunity to further focus its expertise on automation and turnkey industrial solutions, while maintaining

Franco Filippi, CEO & Chairman of EPF( left), and Egashira Kouji, Senior Manager, Business Planning Division, Metal & Plastics Industrial Machine Company, representing Georg Holzinger( President, Shibaura Machine LWB GmbH, Executive Vice President, Shibaura Machine Europe S. r. l., and Deputy General Manager, Metal & Plastics Industrial Machine Company), who participated remotely, making the official announcement of the joint venture.

a central role in developing Shibaura’ s business in the Mediterranean region. The definitive agreement is expected in the second half of 2026, with the transaction’ s completion projected by the end

of the year. Although it will have a limited financial impact on the results of the current fiscal year, the initiative is considered strategic for the Japanese group’ s European growth plan.

All machines equipped with AI VISION SYSTEMS

sales @ robomatix. it- www. robomatix. it via Maestro A. Ceccon, 5 / E- 35010 Loreggia( PD)- Italy