In mid-December, the Wittmann Group officially opened its expanded production plant in Kunshan, China, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of this site. The investment marks a change in the company's role in the local market, from a component supplier to a provider of complete systems for plastics processing. In addition to robots and auxiliary equipment, Kunshan will start local production of injection molding machines for customers in China and other Asian countries. Around 250 customers and partners attended the event and had the opportunity to see the new production hall and the expanded technical center.
"Our new plant represents Wittmann's transformation from a component supplier to a full-service systems solution provider," emphasized Kevin Wang, General Manager of Wittmann Kunshan and Wittmann Battenfeld Shanghai. "We can now offer our customers here in China and Asia integrated system solutions from a single source that are produced entirely locally. Our customers benefit from shorter delivery times and the cost advantages of local production."
The guests at the opening highlighted the modern character of the facility and the large technical center, where the first injection molding machine exhibits were installed for the ceremony. The technical center and the new, modern training area are to be used intensively in the future for molding trials, industry events and interdisciplinary development projects involving customers.
Local production of EcoPrimus 100 injection molding machines
Initially, machine production at the upgraded plant in China will focus on the all-electric EcoPrimus injection molding machine with a clamping force of 100 tons. This model was presented for the first time at K 2025 and is primarily dedicated to users in the Asian region. As emphasized in his speech by the founder and owner of the Wittmann Group, Dr. Werner Wittmann, the company's goal is to build 100 EcoPrimus 100 machines in China next year.
The start of local assembly of injection molding machines is an extension of the company's existing strategy in the Chinese market. Until now, Kunshan has served as a production center for robots and selected auxiliary equipment for local customers. By expanding the portfolio to include injection molding machines, the company intends to offer complete production cells configured with a single supplier, which is important for system integration as well as for service and application support.
The expanded Wittmann production facility in Kunshan was officially opened in mid-December by Dr. Werner Wittmann (fourth from left) and Kevin Wang (second from right), together with guests and colleagues.
Doubling production capacity and optimizing processes
The expansion of the Kunshan plant has led to a significant increase in manufacturing capacity. Total production capacity has been doubled, which is linked both to the larger area and to improvements in process organization. The investment includes more than 10,000 m² of additional floor space, of which 6,500 m² is allocated to production and 3,500 m² to the new office building. In total, 13,000 m² of production space is now available.
In addition to enlarging the floor space, the company has modernized and optimized process flows and workflows for higher efficiency. Key production areas such as machining, assembly and painting have been integrated and interconnected. This is intended to enable better coordination of operations, shorter lead times and more flexible production planning in response to changing demand in the robot, auxiliary equipment and new EcoPrimus injection molding machine segments.
Dr. Werner Wittmann recalled that with the founding of Wittmann Kunshan 20 years ago, the company brought robot production to China. Today, the company is one of the leading European robot suppliers to the Chinese plastics processing industry. He pointed out that this result is the outcome of combining advanced technology with local production in Asia at competitive costs. The company aims to continue this strategy in the field of EcoPrimus injection molding machines, focusing on regional availability and tailoring equipment to the requirements of local customers.
New R&D center and closer market alignment
As part of the expansion, Kunshan is to serve in future not only as a production site but also as a development location. Guests at the opening were given an initial preview of the new research and development center, which is intended to support the development of solutions tailored to the specific expectations of users in China and other Asian countries.
"With our own development, we can respond more flexibly and quickly to the specific requirements here in China and Asia," said Kevin Wang, pointing to key target markets including packaging, medical devices, automotive and home appliances. The local presence of R&D teams, combined with the technical center where mold trials, application start-ups and joint projects with customers can be carried out, is expected to strengthen the company's position as a supplier of system solutions for plastics processing.
Wittmann's new technical center in Kunshan, China, offers plenty of space for customer trials and joint development work.
Twenty years of presence in the Chinese market
Wittmann has been present in China through its own sales and service subsidiary since 2001. Robot production in Kunshan started in 2005, and shortly afterwards the range of locally manufactured equipment was extended to include temperature control units, material conveying units, compact dryers and granulators for the Chinese market and other markets in the region.
The company took another step in the development of its structures in China in 2021 by opening an additional sales and service center in Dongguan in the south of the country. The expansion of Kunshan and the launch of local production of EcoPrimus injection molding machines are part of a consistently implemented strategy of gradually expanding the company's production, service and development presence in key plastics processing markets in Asia.
