The Italian company has purchased MIR, located in Brescia, and will be reorganizing its international activities under the guidance of Pietro Nicolazzi. As of 30 June 2008 it no longer distribute the presses made by the Chinese manufacturer in Italy.

In March, HT Italy, founded to distribute Haitian presses in Italy, won the auction to take over MIR, located in Brescia (Italy), for EUR 9.5 million. MIR is an historic Italian brand for the construction of injection molding machines that since 2006 has been managed by special commissioner following financial difficulties.

We visited the MIR plants where production has restarted thanks to orders for a total of EUR 5 million – a total of 26 presses for a total of 23,000 tons of clamping force – by a company in the Fiat Group (Automotive Lighting, Ergom) and a number of its sub-contractors.

The CEO of HT Italy, Pietro Nicolazzi, explained the new organization of the group: at the beginning of 2009 HT Italy will change its name (and logo) to HT IMM, and the machines will be branded MIR and HT IMM. Furthermore, the company will exclusively sell in Italy special presses for thermoplastics, rubber, and thermosets by the Swiss company Wave IMM (that Nicolazzi is also a founder of).

Presses with large tonnage, clamping forces greater than 1,200 tons, two platen machines, machines for multiple injection, with rotating tables, vertical presses, and presses for rubber in standard configurations will be sold under the MIR brand (custom machines will be sold under the Wave brand). The entire production will be made in Italy, from bases to platens, through assembly and finally inspection. "Our target is to offer the market a quality product at a reasonable price," affirms Nicolazzi. "We want to change the image that has defined MIR's production over the last few years, which is low cost machines that are not always reliable."

The HT IMM presses will be offered with clamping forces from 60 to 1,200 tons with base and clamp group assembled in China at the Ningbo plant under the supervision of Italian engineers. All the components, controls, and peripherals will be assembled in Italy, sourced from European suppliers based on customer specifications. Nicolazzi intends that this line of machines continue to be defined by its contained cost of investment, while maintaining the technological content in line with the expectations of European transformers.

Internationally, HT is establishing new subsidiaries for sales and assistance in Mexico and Eastern Europe (starting in the Slovak Republic and Poland) through a system of affiliated companies.

"We will supply our partners machines, spare-parts, know-how, and software for sales management, assistance, and reconditioning of the presses through a franchising arrangement," explained Nicolazzi.

In terms of the forecast for 2008, Nicolazzi is targeting an increase in HT Italy sales by 20%, regardless of the difficult economic situation. As for MIR, results will only be visible in 2009. "The objective for next year, on a group level, is to reach a turn-over of EUR 20 to 25 million."

Purchasing MIR - and positioning themselves as an international injection press manufacturer – HT Italy had to relinquish distribution of Haitian presses in Italy, a decision taken with the agreement with the Chinese manufacturer. Sales and technical assistance in Italy for Haitian presses will therefore be performed by Haitian Europe, who is reinforcing its headquarters in Cazzago San Martino (near Brescia). Haitian hopes to increase its market share in Europe from the current 10% to 15% by the end of 2010.